Anthony Duclair or Ivan Barbashev? The NHL Stat Breakdown

Few NHL comparisons generate more debate than Anthony Duclair vs Ivan Barbashev. The numbers reveal a genuinely competitive matchup — Ivan Barbashev takes 3 categories while Anthony Duclair claims 2, making this one of the closer head to head comparisons at the LW position. Every statistical category matters in a matchup this tight.

Ivan Barbashev's Plus/Minus of 83 compared to Anthony Duclair's 16 represents a 418.8% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Ivan Barbashev's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Points, where Anthony Duclair posts 347 against Ivan Barbashev's 364 — a gap of just 4.9%. Anthony Duclair can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 3-2 tally suggests. In any debate, Points is the statistical ammunition for the Anthony Duclair side.

Hockey's greatest players accumulate points through both goal scoring and playmaking. The balance between goals and assists often reveals a player's style — pure scorer versus pass-first playmaker.

The verdict favors Ivan Barbashev — 3 categories to 2 — but Anthony Duclair makes this far from a one-sided debate. Anyone building the case for Anthony Duclair has real statistical ammunition particularly in Points where the gap narrows to just 4.9%. The numbers have spoken, but the argument will continue.