Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Bennett has 1 left. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.6.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Plus/minus +20, High-danger chances 57.9%.
Bennett's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 82, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018, Faceoffs won 517.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sam Bennett has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.19 |
| 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 Bennett
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 12A, 26 SOG · Bennett 4G 6A, 65 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 2–2 · neutral 0–0 · Barbashev's defensive zone 0–0 (2022-23 to 2024-25)
Barbashev blocked 0 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 1 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
4:18 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–7
- 12.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.1
- 43.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-10 | VGK 2–3 FLA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-25 | VGK 0–3 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-26 | VGK 4–1 FLA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-10-19 | VGK 3–4 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-01-04 | VGK 1–4 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-23 | VGK 2–4 FLA | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-06-13 · PO | VGK 9–3 FLA | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2023-06-10 · PO | VGK 3–2 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-06-08 · PO | VGK 2–3 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-06-05 · PO | VGK 7–2 FLA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-06-03 · PO | VGK 5–2 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-07 | VGK 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 21 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)
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.6 ptsLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 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 Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 18 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 Bennett done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 12–9. Barbashev had 16 points (4 goals) and Bennett had 10 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Bennett?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 2 and Bennett 2 of their 4 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 →