Is Anthony Duclair Better Than Mathew Barzal? NHL Stats Decide

Few NHL comparisons generate more debate than Anthony Duclair vs Mathew Barzal. The numbers reveal a genuinely competitive matchup — Mathew Barzal takes 4 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.

Mathew Barzal's Assists of 381 compared to Anthony Duclair's 178 represents a 114% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. Anthony Duclair falls 49.1% below the career average of 350 in this category while Mathew Barzal exceeds it. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Mathew Barzal's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Goals, where Anthony Duclair posts 169 against Mathew Barzal's 153 — a gap of just 10.5%. Anthony Duclair can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 4-2 tally suggests. In any debate, Goals 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 Mathew Barzal — 4 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 Goals where the gap narrows to just 10.5%. The numbers have spoken, but the argument will continue.