Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Ryan Leonard
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Leonard's 1.59.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Leonard had 45 in 75 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Leonard has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Leonard for 1.8 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Corsi 51.6%.
Leonard's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.71, Hardest shot 93.9, Hits 124.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Ryan Leonard
1.50
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Leonard |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.53 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.17 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.17 |
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: Barzal vs Leonard
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barzal 2G 0A, 8 SOG · Leonard 1G 1A, 5 SOG
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
7:28 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–1
- 95.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Leonard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | NYI 1–4 WSH | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-30 | NYI 1–4 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-31 | NYI 3–1 WSH | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-11 | NYI 2–4 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 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.
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.
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)
Ryan Leonard
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 11th-most FP to RWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows the most FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Ryan Leonard in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Leonard's 1.59. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Leonard had 45 in 75 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, Mathew Barzal or Ryan Leonard?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 23 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Barzal and Leonard done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 1–3. Barzal had 2 points (2 goals) and Leonard had 2 (1 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 →