Who to start · 2025-26
Jakob Chychrun vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jakob Chychrun projects to 2.38 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Chychrun had 60 points in 80 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Chychrun has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Chychrun for 2.4 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Jakob Chychrun has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Chychrun's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.61, Goals above expected +3.4, Hardest shot 99.1.
Barzal's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, 20+ mph bursts 313, Ice-time share 34.0%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jakob Chychrun
2.25
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jakob Chychrun has the edge.
| Points per game from | Chychrun | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.65 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.42 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.71 | 0.31 |
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: Chychrun vs Barzal
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.
Chychrun 1G 7A, 35 SOG · Barzal 4G 4A, 32 SOG
Chychrun blocked 2 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 0 of Chychrun's.
On the ice against each other (Chychrun's side)
20:11 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Chychrun's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–22
- 47.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.7–1.4
- 54.9%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Chychrun | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-30 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-31 | WSH 1–3 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-11 | WSH 4–2 NYI | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-16 | OTT 4–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-24 | OTT 3–5 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-26 | OTT 2–3 NYI | 1G 0A 9S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-12-16 | ARI 5–4 NYI | 0G 2A 6S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-21 | ARI 0–4 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-10-23 | ARI 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-17 | ARI 2–1 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-10-24 | ARI 2–4 NYI | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Jakob Chychrun
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 10th-most FP to DLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B2.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to DSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jakob Chychrun or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jakob Chychrun projects to 2.38 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Chychrun had 60 points in 80 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 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, Jakob Chychrun or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jakob Chychrun leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Chychrun and Barzal done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Chychrun's team went 7–7. Chychrun had 8 points (1 goals) and Barzal had 8 (4 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 →