Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Kiefer Sherwood
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kiefer Sherwood projects to 1.77 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.66.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Sherwood had 36 in 72 games.
This week Barbashev has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Sherwood has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Barbashev for 3.3 ESPN points to Sherwood's 1.8.
Kiefer Sherwood has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, High-danger chances 57.9%, Expected goals 57.3%.
Sherwood's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.58, Penalty minutes 50, Hardest shot 95.8.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.66
fantasy points per game
Kiefer Sherwood
1.77
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kiefer Sherwood has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Sherwood |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.53 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.56 | 0.17 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.49 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.20 |
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 Sherwood
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barbashev 4G 1A, 10 SOG · Sherwood 0G 3A, 12 SOG
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Sherwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-06 | VGK 3–2 VAN | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-02-22 | VGK 3–1 VAN | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-03-26 | VGK 4–5 NSH | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-20 | VGK 3–5 NSH | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-04-04 | VGK 2–3 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-04-02 | STL 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-04-26 | STL 4–1 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2020-03-11 | STL 4–2 ANA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-10-14 | STL 2–3 ANA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
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 (2 left)
3.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA1.5 ptsvs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Kiefer Sherwood
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 13th-most FP to LWLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.8 ptsOpp allows the most FP to LWLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Kiefer Sherwood in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kiefer Sherwood projects to 1.77 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.66. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Sherwood had 36 in 72 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 Kiefer Sherwood?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Kiefer Sherwood leads in 19 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 Sherwood done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 4–5. Barbashev had 5 points (4 goals) and Sherwood had 3 (0 goals).
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 →