Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Rantanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Rantanen's 1.6.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Fenwick 53.4%, Goals above expected +1.7.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 93, Ascension score 54, Power-play share 82.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.22 |
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 Rantanen
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 7G 8A, 37 SOG · Rantanen 19G 26A, 124 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Barbashev's defensive zone 1–1 (2020-21 to 2022-23)
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
5:43 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–7
- 53.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.5
- 28.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-29 | VGK 4–5 DAL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-27 | VGK 1–2 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-09 | VGK 8–4 COL | 2G 2A 2S | 3G 0A 6S |
| 2024-04-14 | VGK 4–3 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2024-01-10 | VGK 0–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2023-11-04 | VGK 7–0 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-02-27 | VGK 0–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-18 | STL 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-28 | STL 2–4 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-12-11 | STL 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 3G 0A 5S |
| 2022-11-14 | STL 3–2 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-05-27 · PO | STL 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 37 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)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Mikko Rantanen in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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 Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 18 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 Rantanen done against each other?
- In 37 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 14–23. Barbashev had 15 points (7 goals) and Rantanen had 45 (19 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Rantanen?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 1 and Rantanen 1 of their 2 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 →