Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Patrick Kane
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Patrick Kane projects to 1.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Kane had 57 in 67 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Kane has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Kane's 1.6.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Luck Meter +47, Hits 137, Goals above expected +1.2.
Kane's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.70, Ascension score 48, Power-play time per game 3:08.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Patrick Kane
1.68
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Patrick Kane has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Kane |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.54 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.19 |
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 Kane
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 4G 10A, 35 SOG · Kane 10G 13A, 85 SOG
Barbashev blocked 1 of Kane's shots; Kane blocked 0 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
16:08 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–13
- 59.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.5
- 69.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Kane |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-29 | VGK 5–2 CHI | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-03-04 | VGK 4–3 DET | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-22 | VGK 6–3 DET | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2025-03-16 | VGK 0–3 DET | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-09 | VGK 5–3 DET | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-21 | STL 3–5 CHI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-12-29 | STL 3–1 CHI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-16 | STL 5–2 CHI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2022-02-27 | STL 4–0 CHI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-02-12 | STL 5–1 CHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-11-26 | STL 2–3 CHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2020-03-08 | STL 2–0 CHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 7S |
Latest 12 of 24 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 ANALikely 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)
Patrick Kane
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.6 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to RWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Patrick Kane in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Patrick Kane projects to 1.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Kane had 57 in 67 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 Patrick Kane?
- 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 Kane done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 16–8. Barbashev had 14 points (4 goals) and Kane had 23 (10 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 →