Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Nazem Kadri
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nazem Kadri projects to 1.63 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Kadri had 50 in 77 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Kadri has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Kadri's 1.3.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, Luck Meter +43, Goals above expected +1.7.
Kadri's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.89, Power-play share 70.7%, Faceoffs won 464.
Head to head on the dot, Kadri leads Barbashev 18–11.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Nazem Kadri
1.63
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nazem Kadri has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Kadri |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.18 |
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 Kadri
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 12A, 57 SOG · Kadri 14G 18A, 123 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 1–6 · neutral 6–6 · Barbashev's defensive zone 4–6 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Barbashev blocked 2 of Kadri's shots; Kadri blocked 0 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
24:13 at 5-on-5 over 7 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–32
- 37.3%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–1.2
- 50.3%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Kadri |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-26 · PO | VGK 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-05-24 · PO | VGK 5–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-05-22 · PO | VGK 3–1 COL | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-05-20 · PO | VGK 4–2 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-12-20 | VGK 3–6 CGY | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-18 | VGK 6–1 CGY | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-14 | VGK 4–2 CGY | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-04-15 | VGK 4–5 CGY | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-05 | VGK 3–2 CGY | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-10-28 | VGK 5–0 CGY | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-14 | VGK 1–4 CGY | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-01-13 | VGK 1–3 CGY | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 44 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)
Nazem Kadri
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Nazem Kadri in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nazem Kadri projects to 1.63 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Kadri had 50 in 77 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 Nazem Kadri?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev 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 Kadri done against each other?
- In 44 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 22–22. Barbashev had 19 points (7 goals) and Kadri had 32 (14 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Kadri?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 11 and Kadri 18 of their 29 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 →