Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Clayton Keller
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Clayton Keller's 2.15.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Keller had 88 in 82 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Keller has 2 left. We project Keller for 4.1 ESPN points to Rust's 2.3.
Clayton Keller has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.5, Blocked shots 71, Luck Meter +32.
Keller's biggest edges: Expected goals 57.1%, Sequence xG 57.1%, Scoring chances 56.1%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Clayton Keller
2.03
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Keller |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.76 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.20 |
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: Rust vs Keller
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.
Rust 4G 8A, 28 SOG · Keller 3G 7A, 35 SOG
Rust blocked 2 of Keller's shots; Keller blocked 0 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
5:07 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–5
- 37.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.2
- 17.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Keller |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | PIT 4–3 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-14 | PIT 4–5 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-29 | PIT 3–2 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-23 | PIT 1–6 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2024-01-22 | PIT 2–5 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-08 | PIT 4–1 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2022-10-13 | PIT 6–2 ARI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-19 | PIT 4–1 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-25 | PIT 6–3 ARI | 1G 2A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2020-01-12 | PIT 4–3 ARI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-12-06 | PIT 2–0 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2019-01-18 | PIT 3–2 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.3 pts
Clayton Keller
3games (2 left)
4.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ2.0 pts
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Clayton Keller 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 Clayton Keller's 2.15. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Keller had 88 in 82 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, Bryan Rust or Clayton Keller?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Clayton Keller 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 Rust and Keller done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 12–3. Rust had 12 points (4 goals) and Keller had 10 (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 →