Who to start · 2025-26
Adrian Kempe vs Bryan Rust
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01.
Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Rust had 65 in 72 games.
This week Kempe has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rust has 1 left. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Kempe's 1.6.
Adrian Kempe has the better number in 22 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Kempe's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.93, Hits 127, Faceoffs won 54.
Rust's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.32, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.04, High-danger chances 51.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Adrian Kempe
2.11
fantasy points per game
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kempe | Rust |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.49 |
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: Kempe vs Rust
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.
Kempe 9G 4A, 51 SOG · Rust 7G 6A, 41 SOG
Kempe blocked 0 of Rust's shots; Rust blocked 1 of Kempe's.
On the ice against each other (Kempe's side)
6:28 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Kempe's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–7
- 53.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.8
- 29.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kempe | Rust |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-09 | LAK 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-16 | LAK 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-01-20 | LAK 1–5 PIT | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-17 | LAK 2–3 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-18 | LAK 2–1 PIT | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-09 | LAK 3–4 PIT | 1G 0A 8S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-02-11 | LAK 6–0 PIT | 4G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-20 | LAK 1–6 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-01-30 | LAK 4–3 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2020-02-26 | LAK 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2019-12-14 | LAK 4–5 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 2G 1A 6S |
| 2019-01-12 | LAK 5–2 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
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.
Adrian Kempe
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Adrian Kempe or Bryan Rust in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01. Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Rust had 65 in 72 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, Adrian Kempe or Bryan Rust?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Adrian Kempe leads in 22 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kempe and Rust done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Kempe's team went 6–8. Kempe had 13 points (9 goals) and Rust had 13 (7 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 →