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Who to start · 2025-26

Ivan Barbashev vs Mika Zibanejad

Ivan BarbashevIvan BarbashevGolden Knights · Left wingvsMika ZibanejadMika ZibanejadRangers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.

Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.

This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.5.

Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Barbashev's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, Expected goals 57.3%, Sequence xG 57.2%.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Power-play share 77.5%, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Faceoffs won 574.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Ivan Barbashev

1.59

fantasy points per game

Mika Zibanejad

2.27

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBarbashevZibanejad
Goals (+2)0.490.81
Assists (+1)0.530.51
Power-play points (+0.5)0.030.21
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.150.25
Hits (+0.1)0.180.14
Blocks (+0.5)0.200.34

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

Ivan Barbashev and Mika Zibanejad have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

BarbashevZibanejad

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 CHI
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
  • Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
    Likely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 pts
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)

Mika Zibanejad

4games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Schedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.5 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 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 Mika Zibanejad?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.

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 →