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Who to start · 2025-26

Ivan Barbashev vs Will Cuylle

Ivan BarbashevIvan BarbashevGolden Knights · Left wingvsWill CuylleWill CuylleRangers · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Cuylle projects to 1.63 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.

Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Cuylle had 38 in 82 games.

This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Cuylle has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Cuylle's 1.4.

Will Cuylle has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Barbashev's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Expected goals 57.3%.

Cuylle's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 65, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.021, 20+ mph bursts 122.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Ivan Barbashev

1.59

fantasy points per game

Will Cuylle

1.63

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Will Cuylle has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBarbashevCuylle
Goals (+2)0.490.41
Assists (+1)0.530.24
Power-play points (+0.5)0.030.07
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.150.20
Hits (+0.1)0.180.37
Blocks (+0.5)0.200.35

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 Cuylle

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

BarbashevCuylle
4Team record in 6 meetings2
5Points in those games1

Barbashev 2G 3A, 12 SOG · Cuylle 0G 1A, 9 SOG

0Hits on each other1

On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)

6:31 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side

Shot attempts
4–6
40.0%
Expected goals
0.1–0.6
16.1%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Ivan Barbashev and Will Cuylle
DateScoreBarbashevCuylle
2025-12-07VGK 3–2 NYR0G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2025-11-18VGK 3–2 NYR0G 0A 0S0G 1A 2S
2025-02-02VGK 2–4 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2025-01-11VGK 1–2 NYR0G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2024-01-26VGK 5–2 NYR0G 3A 3S0G 0A 1S
2024-01-18VGK 5–1 NYR2G 0A 3S0G 0A 2S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

BarbashevCuylle

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 CHI
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
  • Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 pts
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)

Will Cuylle

4games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to LWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Will Cuylle in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Cuylle projects to 1.63 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Cuylle had 38 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 Will Cuylle?
On 2025-26 numbers, Will Cuylle leads in 17 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 Cuylle done against each other?
In 6 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 4–2. Barbashev had 5 points (2 goals) and Cuylle had 1 (0 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 →