Who to start · 2025-26
Brad Marchand vs Bryan Rust
In 2025-26, Bryan Rust scored 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brad Marchand's 2.26.
Marchand had 54 points in 52 games; Rust had 65 in 72 games.
This week Marchand has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Rust has 1 left. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Marchand's 1.8.
Bryan Rust has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Marchand's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.94, Expected goals 49.9%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.33.
Rust's biggest edges: Blocked shots 71, Plus/minus 0, Hardest shot 88.4.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brad Marchand
2.26
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 | Marchand | Rust |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.04 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.52 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 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: Marchand 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.
Marchand 15G 13A, 91 SOG · Rust 7G 7A, 65 SOG
Marchand blocked 0 of Rust's shots; Rust blocked 1 of Marchand's.
On the ice against each other (Marchand's side)
10:57 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Marchand's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–9
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.2
- 85.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marchand | Rust |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-23 | FLA 3–5 PIT | 2G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-03-01 | BOS 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-29 | BOS 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-13 | BOS 6–4 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2024-01-04 | BOS 5–6 PIT | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-04-01 | BOS 4–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2023-01-02 | BOS 2–1 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-01 | BOS 6–5 PIT | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2022-04-21 | BOS 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-04-16 | BOS 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-02-08 | BOS 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2021-04-27 | BOS 3–1 PIT | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 25 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.
Brad Marchand
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.8 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
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 RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brad Marchand or Bryan Rust in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Bryan Rust scored 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brad Marchand's 2.26. Marchand had 54 points in 52 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, Brad Marchand or Bryan Rust?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Bryan Rust leads in 21 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Marchand and Rust done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Marchand's team went 15–10. Marchand had 28 points (15 goals) and Rust had 14 (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 →