Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Leon Draisaitl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Draisaitl had 97 in 65 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Draisaitl has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Draisaitl for 2.0 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Hits 137, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Blocked shots 37.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Ascension score 69, Power-play share 87.3%, Faceoffs won 628.
Head to head on the dot, Draisaitl leads Barbashev 13–11.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Draisaitl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 1.19 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.96 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.34 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.31 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.10 |
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 Draisaitl
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barbashev 9G 11A, 51 SOG · Draisaitl 17G 21A, 99 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 8–6 · neutral 1–4 · Barbashev's defensive zone 2–3 (2018-19 to 2024-25)
Barbashev blocked 2 of Draisaitl's shots; Draisaitl blocked 0 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
8:59 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–11
- 35.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–1.0
- 12.2%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Draisaitl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-08 | VGK 2–4 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-21 | VGK 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-05-14 · PO | VGK 0–1 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-05-12 · PO | VGK 0–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-05-10 · PO | VGK 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-05-08 · PO | VGK 4–5 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-05-06 · PO | VGK 2–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-01 | VGK 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-14 | VGK 3–6 EDM | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2024-12-03 | VGK 1–0 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-06 | VGK 4–2 EDM | 0G 3A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-10 | VGK 1–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 32 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)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Leon Draisaitl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Draisaitl had 97 in 65 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 Leon Draisaitl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 21 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 Draisaitl done against each other?
- In 32 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 14–18. Barbashev had 20 points (9 goals) and Draisaitl had 38 (17 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Draisaitl?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 11 and Draisaitl 13 of their 24 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 →