Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 36, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.000, Sequence xG 59.8%.
Rakell's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 66.1%, Luck Meter +16, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson 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.
Nelson 10G 11A, 61 SOG · Rakell 8G 10A, 63 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 5–1 · neutral 1–0 · Nelson's defensive zone 0–1 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
5:34 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–4
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.2
- 71.9%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | COL 6–2 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-03-16 | COL 2–7 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-29 | NYI 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-28 | NYI 6–3 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-05 | NYI 4–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-04-17 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-20 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 1G 1A 8S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-31 | NYI 1–3 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-27 | NYI 0–7 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2023-03-09 | NYI 4–3 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-20 | NYI 4–2 PIT | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-02-17 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 2G 1A 3S | 2G 0A 8S |
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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Brock Nelson or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 24 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Rakell done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 12–10. Nelson had 21 points (10 goals) and Rakell had 18 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Rakell?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 6 and Rakell 2 of their 8 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 →