Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Noah Dobson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Dobson projects to 2.17 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Dobson had 47 in 80 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Dobson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Dobson's 1.6.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: High-danger chances 57.9%, Sequence xG 57.2%, Scoring chances 52.4%.
Dobson's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.60, Faceoffs won 0, Ascension score 50.
- • 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
Noah Dobson
2.17
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Noah Dobson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Dobson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.28 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.41 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 1.16 |
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 Dobson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barbashev 3G 3A, 19 SOG · Dobson 1G 6A, 18 SOG
Barbashev blocked 0 of Dobson's shots; Dobson blocked 2 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
10:23 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–12
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.3
- 44.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Dobson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-27 | VGK 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-11-28 | VGK 1–4 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-23 | VGK 3–2 NYI | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-01-06 | VGK 5–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-06 | STL 7–4 NYI | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2022-11-03 | STL 2–5 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-04-09 | STL 6–1 NYI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-05 | STL 1–2 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2020-02-27 | STL 3–2 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
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)
Noah Dobson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Noah Dobson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Dobson projects to 2.17 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Dobson had 47 in 80 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 Noah Dobson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 21 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 Dobson done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 5–4. Barbashev had 6 points (3 goals) and Dobson had 7 (1 goals).
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 →