Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Jack Eichel
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Eichel projects to 2.61 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Eichel had 90 in 74 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Eichel has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Eichel for 5.1 ESPN points to Rust's 2.2.
Jack Eichel has the better number in 24 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.2, Luck Meter +44, Blocked shots 71.
Eichel's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.16, Faceoffs won 558, Expected goals 60.0%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Jack Eichel
2.47
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Eichel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Eichel |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.73 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.85 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.35 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.27 |
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 Eichel
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 2G 5A, 31 SOG · Eichel 8G 9A, 44 SOG
Rust's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Rust's defensive zone 0–0 (2022-23)
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
10:33 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–11
- 47.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.3
- 24.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Eichel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | PIT 2–6 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2026-03-01 | PIT 5–0 VGK | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-11 | PIT 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-03-07 | PIT 0–4 VGK | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-11-19 | PIT 3–0 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-05 | PIT 2–5 VGK | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2022-12-01 | PIT 4–3 VGK | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 7S |
| 2022-03-11 | PIT 5–2 VGK | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2020-03-05 | PIT 4–2 BUF | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2020-02-22 | PIT 2–5 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2018-11-19 | PIT 4–5 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2017-12-02 | PIT 5–1 BUF | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 14 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)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Jack Eichel
3games (2 left)
5.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA2.3 ptsvs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.8 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Jack Eichel in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Eichel projects to 2.61 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Eichel had 90 in 74 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 Jack Eichel?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Eichel leads in 24 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 Eichel done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 9–5. Rust had 7 points (2 goals) and Eichel had 17 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rust or Eichel?
- Against each other, Rust has won 1 and Eichel 0 of their 1 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 →