Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hertl for 2.0 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Tomas Hertl has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, Luck Meter +43, Goals above expected +1.7.
Hertl's biggest edges: Ascension score 61, Power-play share 78.1%, Faceoffs won 720.
Head to head on the dot, Hertl leads Barbashev 12–7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tomas Hertl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.37 |
| 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 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.30 |
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 Hertl
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 3G 4A, 27 SOG · Hertl 4G 8A, 40 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 3–5 · neutral 3–5 · Barbashev's defensive zone 1–2 (2017-18 to 2023-24)
Barbashev blocked 1 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 2 of Barbashev's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
90:07 at 5-on-5 over 33 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 77–89
- 46.4%
- Expected goals
- 3.3–3.2
- 50.8%
- Goals
- 1–4
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-10 | VGK 5–4 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-10 | VGK 5–0 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-10-12 | VGK 4–1 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-30 | VGK 3–4 SJS | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-10 | STL 5–3 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-21 | STL 3–1 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-18 | STL 4–1 SJS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-11-04 | STL 5–3 SJS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-02-18 | STL 3–2 SJS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-01-20 | STL 1–2 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-01-18 | STL 5–4 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2020-01-07 | STL 3–2 SJS | 1G 0A 1S | 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 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)
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Tomas Hertl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tomas Hertl 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 15–6. Barbashev had 7 points (3 goals) and Hertl had 12 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Hertl?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 7 and Hertl 12 of their 19 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 →