Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Strome vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dylan Strome's 1.72.
Strome had 58 points in 80 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Strome has 1 game left; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Strome's 1.8.
Rickard Rakell has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Strome's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.104, Faceoff win % 58.3%, Penalty minutes 46.
Rakell's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Hits 71, 20+ mph bursts 99.
Head to head on the dot, Strome leads Rakell 5–5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Strome
1.72
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Strome | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.45 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.58 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 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: Strome 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.
Strome 8G 10A, 44 SOG · Rakell 3G 10A, 56 SOG
Strome's offensive zone 2–2 · neutral 3–2 · Strome's defensive zone 0–1 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Strome blocked 1 of Rakell's shots; Rakell blocked 1 of Strome's.
On the ice against each other (Strome's side)
12:05 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Strome's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–6
- 76.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 60.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Strome | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-12 | WSH 3–0 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-11 | WSH 6–3 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-17 | WSH 2–5 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-02-22 | WSH 8–3 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-18 | WSH 4–1 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-11-08 | WSH 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-04 | WSH 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-07 | WSH 6–0 PIT | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-01-02 | WSH 4–3 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-10-13 | WSH 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-03-25 | WSH 3–4 PIT | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-26 | WSH 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
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.
Dylan Strome
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to CSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
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 RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Strome or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dylan Strome's 1.72. Strome had 58 points in 80 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, Dylan Strome or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 19 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Strome and Rakell done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Strome's team went 12–10. Strome had 18 points (8 goals) and Rakell had 13 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Strome or Rakell?
- Against each other, Strome has won 5 and Rakell 5 of their 10 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 →