Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs J.T. Miller
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, J.T. Miller projects to 1.63 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Miller had 53 in 68 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left; Miller has 1 left. We project Miller for 1.8 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.6.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, Luck Meter +43, Goals above expected +1.7.
Miller's biggest edges: Power-play share 73.3%, Faceoffs won 547, Power-play time per game 3:06.
Head to head on the dot, Barbashev leads Miller 6–5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
J.T. Miller
1.63
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, J.T. Miller has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Miller |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.42 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.26 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Barbashev vs Miller
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barbashev 1G 7A, 18 SOG · Miller 6G 13A, 47 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 4–2 · neutral 0–1 · Barbashev's defensive zone 2–2 (2017-18 to 2023-24)
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
14:01 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–5
- 75.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 43.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Miller |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-07 | VGK 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-18 | VGK 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-02-02 | VGK 2–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-04-08 | VGK 3–4 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2024-04-02 | VGK 6–3 VAN | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-03-07 | VGK 1–3 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-30 | VGK 4–1 VAN | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-21 | VGK 4–3 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-23 | STL 2–3 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2022-12-19 | STL 5–1 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-03-30 | STL 4–3 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-03-28 | STL 4–1 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 18 meetings.
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.
Ivan Barbashev
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHI
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.6 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
J.T. Miller
4games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.8 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or J.T. Miller in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, J.T. Miller projects to 1.63 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Miller had 53 in 68 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- Who is better, Ivan Barbashev or J.T. Miller?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Barbashev and Miller done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 12–6. Barbashev had 8 points (1 goals) and Miller had 19 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Miller?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 6 and Miller 5 of their 11 head-to-head draws.
2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →