Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project DeBrincat for 2.3 ESPN points to Rakell's 2.0.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.060, Transition attempts /60 1.78, Sequence xG 53.3%.
Rakell's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 66.1%, Ascension score 50, Hits 71.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.20
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex DeBrincat has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeBrincat | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.34 |
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: DeBrincat vs Rakell
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.
DeBrincat 12G 16A, 73 SOG · Rakell 8G 2A, 67 SOG
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
11:27 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–16
- 38.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.6
- 42.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | DET 1–5 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-03 | DET 1–4 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2026-01-01 | DET 3–4 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-31 | DET 4–2 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-13 | DET 3–2 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-10 | DET 3–6 PIT | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-11 | DET 5–6 PIT | 0G 3A 7S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-03-17 | DET 3–6 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-18 | DET 6–3 PIT | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2023-03-20 | OTT 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-20 | OTT 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-18 | OTT 5–4 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 22 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.
Alex DeBrincat
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Rickard Rakell
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 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, Alex DeBrincat or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have DeBrincat and Rakell done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 12–10. DeBrincat had 28 points (12 goals) and Rakell had 10 (8 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 →