Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Roman Josi
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Roman Josi projects to 2.24 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Josi had 55 in 68 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Josi has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Josi for 2.5 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, Hits 137, Expected goals 57.3%.
Josi's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.90, Faceoffs won 0, Power-play share 68.5%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Roman Josi
2.24
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Roman Josi has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Josi |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.48 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.58 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.70 |
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 Josi
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 4G 7A, 33 SOG · Josi 3G 17A, 81 SOG
Barbashev blocked 3 of Josi's shots; Josi blocked 1 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
14:52 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–9
- 70.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.5
- 73.3%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Josi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | VGK 1–4 NSH | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-17 | VGK 7–2 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-12-31 | VGK 2–4 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-14 | VGK 3–5 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-03-26 | VGK 4–5 NSH | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2024-02-20 | VGK 3–5 NSH | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-01-15 | VGK 4–1 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-01-19 | STL 5–2 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2022-12-12 | STL 1–0 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-10-27 | STL 2–6 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 7S |
| 2022-04-17 | STL 8–3 NSH | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-12 | STL 7–4 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 25 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)
Roman Josi
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to DSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Roman Josi in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Roman Josi projects to 2.24 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Josi had 55 in 68 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 Roman Josi?
- 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 Josi done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 11–14. Barbashev had 11 points (4 goals) and Josi had 20 (3 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 →