Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Nico Hischier
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Hischier had 66 in 82 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left; Hischier has 1 left. We project Hischier for 2.0 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.6.
Nico Hischier has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Luck Meter +43, Goals above expected +1.7, Offensive-zone start % 67.1%.
Hischier's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.007, Faceoffs won 1,008, Power-play share 76.5%.
Head to head on the dot, Hischier leads Barbashev 10–5.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Nico Hischier
1.93
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nico Hischier has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Hischier |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.39 |
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 Hischier
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 6G 6A, 28 SOG · Hischier 6G 3A, 50 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 2–7 · neutral 1–2 · Barbashev's defensive zone 2–1 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Barbashev blocked 1 of Hischier's shots; Hischier blocked 0 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
8:58 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–16
- 48.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.6
- 46.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Hischier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-17 | VGK 1–2 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-12-05 | VGK 3–0 NJD | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-02 | VGK 2–0 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-17 | VGK 3–1 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-22 | VGK 5–6 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-03 | VGK 4–3 NJD | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2023-02-16 | STL 4–2 NJD | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2023-01-05 | STL 5–3 NJD | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-03-06 | STL 2–3 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-02-10 | STL 4–7 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2020-03-06 | STL 2–4 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-18 | STL 3–0 NJD | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 15 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
Nico Hischier
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Nico Hischier in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Hischier had 66 in 82 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 Nico Hischier?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nico Hischier leads in 22 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 Hischier done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 10–5. Barbashev had 12 points (6 goals) and Hischier had 9 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Hischier?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 5 and Hischier 10 of their 15 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 →