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Who to start · 2025-26

Connor Bedard vs Rickard Rakell

Connor BedardConnor BedardBlackhawks · CentrevsRickard RakellRickard RakellPenguins · Right wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor Bedard projects to 2.24 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10.

Bedard had 75 points in 69 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.

This week Bedard has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Bedard for 2.4 ESPN points to Rakell's 2.0.

Connor Bedard has the better number in 19 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.

Bedard's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.85, Penalty minutes 50, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.005.

Rakell's biggest edges: High-danger chances 52.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.35, Corsi 49.9%.

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

Fantasy value: your scoring

Connor Bedard

2.24

fantasy points per game

Rickard Rakell

2.10

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Connor Bedard has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBedardRakell
Goals (+2)0.870.80
Assists (+1)0.650.40
Power-play points (+0.5)0.150.13
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.02
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.330.28
Hits (+0.1)0.040.12
Blocks (+0.5)0.200.36

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: Bedard vs Rakell

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

BedardRakell
2Team record in 5 meetings3
4Points in those games4

Bedard 1G 3A, 19 SOG · Rakell 1G 3A, 15 SOG

0Hits on each other1
1Penalties drawn off the other0

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

4:02 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Bedard's side

Shot attempts
4–2
66.7%
Expected goals
0.2–0.1
68.9%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Connor Bedard and Rickard Rakell
DateScoreBedardRakell
2026-01-29CHI 2–6 PIT1G 0A 4S0G 0A 6S
2025-04-08CHI 0–5 PIT0G 0A 3S0G 1A 0S
2025-04-06CHI 3–1 PIT0G 1A 3S1G 0A 5S
2024-02-15CHI 1–4 PIT0G 1A 4S0G 2A 2S
2023-10-10CHI 4–2 PIT0G 1A 5S0G 0A 2S

Every stat, side by side

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

BedardRakell

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.

Connor Bedard

3games (1 left)

2.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
    Opp allows 14th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.4 pts
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to CSchedule 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 Connor Bedard or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor Bedard projects to 2.24 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10. Bedard had 75 points in 69 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, Connor Bedard or Rickard Rakell?
On 2025-26 numbers, Connor Bedard leads in 19 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Bedard and Rakell done against each other?
In 5 games against each other in our data, Bedard's team went 2–3. Bedard had 4 points (1 goals) and Rakell had 4 (1 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 →