Who to start · 2025-26
Leon Draisaitl vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Draisaitl has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Draisaitl for 2.0 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 26 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 56.9%, Draw Equity /100 +0.077, Goals above expected +1.8.
Barzal's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, Penalty minutes 61, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.030.
Head to head on the dot, Draisaitl leads Barzal 16–5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leon Draisaitl
2.82
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Draisaitl | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.08 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.95 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.32 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 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: Draisaitl 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.
Draisaitl 8G 9A, 41 SOG · Barzal 4G 6A, 22 SOG
Draisaitl's offensive zone 7–2 · neutral 4–1 · Draisaitl's defensive zone 5–2 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Draisaitl's side)
16:36 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Draisaitl's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–14
- 57.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.4
- 78.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Draisaitl | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-15 | EDM 0–1 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-16 | EDM 2–4 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-19 | EDM 1–3 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-11-13 | EDM 4–1 NYI | 1G 3A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-05 | EDM 4–2 NYI | 1G 1A 8S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-23 | EDM 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-02-11 | EDM 3–1 NYI | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-01 | EDM 2–3 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2019-10-08 | EDM 5–2 NYI | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-02-21 | EDM 4–3 NYI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-02-16 | EDM 2–5 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2018-03-08 | EDM 2–1 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
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 Leon Draisaitl or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 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, Leon Draisaitl or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 26 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Draisaitl and Barzal done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 7–6. Draisaitl had 17 points (8 goals) and Barzal had 10 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Draisaitl or Barzal?
- Against each other, Draisaitl has won 16 and Barzal 5 of their 21 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 →