Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Mitch Marner
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mitch Marner projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Marner had 80 in 81 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left; Marner has 1 left. We project Marner for 2.0 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.6.
Mitch Marner has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Hits 137, Luck Meter +43, Top skating speed 22.5.
Marner's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.024, Power-play share 80.1%, Power-play time per game 3:32.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Mitch Marner
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mitch Marner has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Marner |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.52 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.28 |
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 Marner
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barbashev 3G 4A, 15 SOG · Marner 2G 10A, 26 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Barbashev's defensive zone 1–0 (2018-19)
Barbashev blocked 2 of Marner's shots; Marner blocked 0 of Barbashev's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
243:24 at 5-on-5 over 53 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 232–210
- 52.5%
- Expected goals
- 12.5–8.9
- 58.2%
- Goals
- 19–7
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Marner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-05 | VGK 5–2 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-20 | VGK 0–3 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-02-27 | VGK 6–2 TOR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-22 | VGK 3–7 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-01-03 | STL 6–5 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-12-27 | STL 4–5 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-01-15 | STL 5–6 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-02-19 | STL 6–3 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2019-12-07 | STL 2–5 TOR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2019-10-07 | STL 3–2 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-02-19 | STL 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2018-10-20 | STL 4–1 TOR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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 pts
Mitch Marner
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHI
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Mitch Marner in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mitch Marner projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Marner had 80 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 Mitch Marner?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mitch Marner leads in 23 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 Marner done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 8–5. Barbashev had 7 points (3 goals) and Marner had 12 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Marner?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 1 and Marner 0 of their 1 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 →