Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 48, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.002, Sequence xG 56.9%.
Rakell's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Offensive-zone time 44.6%, Power-play share 72.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 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: Cirelli vs Rakell
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 10G 4A, 23 SOG · Rakell 5G 3A, 36 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 1–2 · neutral 0–0 · Cirelli's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
4:46 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–7
- 22.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.2
- 23.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | TBL 6–3 PIT | 3G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-13 | TBL 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-25 | TBL 6–1 PIT | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-12 | TBL 5–2 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2024-11-19 | TBL 3–2 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-02 | TBL 4–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-26 | TBL 3–7 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-01-21 | TBL 1–5 ANA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-01-31 | TBL 4–3 ANA | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2019-11-23 | TBL 6–2 ANA | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2018-11-27 | TBL 1–3 ANA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
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 Anthony Cirelli or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 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, Anthony Cirelli or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 21 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Rakell done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 7–4. Cirelli had 14 points (10 goals) and Rakell had 8 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Rakell?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 1 and Rakell 2 of their 3 head-to-head draws.
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 →