Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Eeli Tolvanen vs Rickard Rakell

Eeli TolvanenEeli TolvanenRangers · Right wingvsRickard RakellRickard RakellPenguins · Right wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Eeli Tolvanen's 1.71.

Tolvanen had 36 points in 78 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.

This week Tolvanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Tolvanen's 1.3.

Rickard Rakell has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Tolvanen's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.47, Penalty minutes 30, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.010.

Rakell's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 66.1%, High-danger chances 52.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.35.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Eeli Tolvanen

1.71

fantasy points per game

Rickard Rakell

2.10

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromTolvanenRakell
Goals (+2)0.480.75
Assists (+1)0.260.44
Power-play points (+0.5)0.070.16
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.02
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.170.27
Hits (+0.1)0.240.13
Blocks (+0.5)0.490.34

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: Tolvanen vs Rakell

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

TolvanenRakell
5Team record in 8 meetings3
4Points in those games8

Tolvanen 3G 1A, 19 SOG · Rakell 2G 6A, 27 SOG

0Hits on each other1
0Shots blocked by the other1

Tolvanen blocked 0 of Rakell's shots; Rakell blocked 1 of Tolvanen's.

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

6:02 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Tolvanen's side

Shot attempts
4–7
36.4%
Expected goals
0.2–0.2
51.6%
Goals
0–2

Games against each other

Games between Eeli Tolvanen and Rickard Rakell
DateScoreTolvanenRakell
2026-01-19SEA 3–6 PIT1G 0A 2S1G 0A 1S
2025-01-25SEA 4–1 PIT1G 0A 3S0G 1A 2S
2025-01-14SEA 4–2 PIT1G 0A 1S0G 0A 6S
2024-02-29SEA 2–0 PIT0G 1A 3S0G 0A 3S
2024-01-15SEA 0–3 PIT0G 0A 1S0G 2A 3S
2022-04-10NSH 2–3 PIT0G 0A 2S0G 3A 3S
2022-03-10NSH 4–1 ANA0G 0A 4S0G 0A 4S
2021-11-22NSH 3–2 ANA0G 0A 3S1G 0A 5S

Every stat, side by side

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

TolvanenRakell

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.

Eeli Tolvanen

4games (1 left)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows the most FP to RWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.3 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

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 RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Eeli Tolvanen 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 Eeli Tolvanen's 1.71. Tolvanen had 36 points in 78 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, Eeli Tolvanen or Rickard Rakell?
On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Tolvanen and Rakell done against each other?
In 8 games against each other in our data, Tolvanen's team went 5–3. Tolvanen had 4 points (3 goals) and Rakell had 8 (2 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 →