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Who to start · 2025-26

Bowen Byram vs Rickard Rakell

Bowen ByramBowen ByramBlackhawks · DefencevsRickard RakellRickard RakellPenguins · Right wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37.

Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.

This week Byram has 1 game left; Rakell has 1 left. We project Byram for 2.0 ESPN points to Rakell's 2.0.

Rickard Rakell has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Byram's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 48, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.046, Transition attempts /60 0.41.

Rakell's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.35, Offensive-zone start % 66.1%, Goals above expected +0.3.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Bowen Byram

1.37

fantasy points per game

Rickard Rakell

2.10

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromByramRakell
Goals (+2)0.240.75
Assists (+1)0.330.44
Power-play points (+0.5)0.040.16
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.02
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.120.27
Hits (+0.1)0.050.13
Blocks (+0.5)0.590.34

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: Byram vs Rakell

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

ByramRakell
5Team record in 11 meetings6
8Points in those games5

Byram 0G 8A, 21 SOG · Rakell 3G 2A, 18 SOG

1Hits on each other3

On the ice against each other (Byram's side)

2:08 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Byram's side

Shot attempts
1–4
20.0%
Expected goals
0.0–0.2
7.0%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Bowen Byram and Rickard Rakell
DateScoreByramRakell
2026-03-05BUF 5–1 PIT0G 1A 2S0G 0A 2S
2025-03-27BUF 7–3 PIT0G 2A 1S0G 1A 0S
2025-01-17BUF 2–5 PIT0G 1A 3S1G 0A 2S
2024-10-16BUF 5–6 PIT0G 2A 0S1G 0A 3S
2023-10-26COL 0–4 PIT0G 0A 4S0G 0A 0S
2023-03-22COL 2–5 PIT0G 0A 0S0G 0A 0S
2023-02-07COL 1–2 PIT0G 1A 1S0G 0A 0S
2022-04-05COL 6–4 PIT0G 0A 2S0G 0A 2S
2022-01-02COL 4–2 ANA0G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2021-01-24COL 1–3 ANA0G 0A 2S1G 0A 2S
2021-01-22COL 3–2 ANA0G 1A 4S0G 1A 6S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

ByramRakell

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Bowen Byram

3games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 pts
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)

Rickard Rakell

2games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 pts
    Opp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Bowen Byram 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 Bowen Byram's 1.37. Byram had 42 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, Bowen Byram or Rickard Rakell?
On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Byram and Rakell done against each other?
In 11 games against each other in our data, Byram's team went 5–6. Byram had 8 points (0 goals) and Rakell had 5 (3 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 →