Who to start · 2025-26
Artemi Panarin 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 Artemi Panarin's 2.00.
Panarin had 84 points in 78 games; Rust had 65 in 72 games.
This week Panarin has 1 game left; Rust has 1 left. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Panarin's 2.0.
Artemi Panarin has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Panarin's biggest edges: Corsi 54.3%, Expected goals 52.0%, Sequence xG 52.1%.
Rust's biggest edges: Blocked shots 71, Goals above expected +1.5, Forecheck xG /60 0.32.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Artemi Panarin
1.99
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 | Panarin | Rust |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.72 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.72 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.10 | 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: Panarin 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.
Panarin 17G 26A, 84 SOG · Rust 8G 13A, 93 SOG
Panarin blocked 0 of Rust's shots; Rust blocked 2 of Panarin's.
On the ice against each other (Panarin's side)
2:20 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Panarin's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–2
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 74.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Panarin | Rust |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-11 | NYR 6–1 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-07 | NYR 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-12-06 | NYR 4–2 PIT | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-04-01 | NYR 2–5 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-16 | NYR 7–4 PIT | 2G 3A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-03-18 | NYR 6–0 PIT | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-16 | NYR 4–2 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-12 | NYR 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-20 | NYR 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2022-05-15 · PO | NYR 4–3 PIT | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-05-13 · PO | NYR 5–3 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-05-11 · PO | NYR 5–3 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 33 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.
Artemi Panarin
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS2.0 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely 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 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Artemi Panarin 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 Artemi Panarin's 2.00. Panarin had 84 points in 78 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, Artemi Panarin or Bryan Rust?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Artemi Panarin leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Panarin and Rust done against each other?
- In 33 games against each other in our data, Panarin's team went 15–18. Panarin had 43 points (17 goals) and Rust had 21 (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 →