Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Lindholm 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 Elias Lindholm's 1.78.
Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Lindholm has 1 game left; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Lindholm's 1.2.
Rickard Rakell has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Lindholm's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.081, Faceoff win % 56.1%, Penalty minutes 38.
Rakell's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Top skating speed 22.8, 20+ mph bursts 99.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Lindholm
1.78
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 | Lindholm | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.41 | 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: Lindholm 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.
Lindholm 6G 6A, 45 SOG · Rakell 7G 2A, 63 SOG
Lindholm's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–2 · Lindholm's defensive zone 2–3 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Lindholm blocked 0 of Rakell's shots; Rakell blocked 1 of Lindholm's.
On the ice against each other (Lindholm's side)
15:00 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Lindholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–14
- 53.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.5
- 55.5%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindholm | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-08 | BOS 4–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-03 | BOS 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-11 | BOS 1–0 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-04-13 | BOS 4–1 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-03-01 | BOS 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-29 | BOS 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-27 | VAN 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2023-10-14 | CGY 2–5 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-23 | CGY 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-10-25 | CGY 4–1 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-02-16 | CGY 6–2 ANA | 2G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-12-03 | CGY 4–3 ANA | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
Elias Lindholm
3games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
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 RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Lindholm 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 Elias Lindholm's 1.78. Lindholm had 48 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, Elias Lindholm or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 25 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindholm and Rakell done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Lindholm's team went 12–9. Lindholm had 12 points (6 goals) and Rakell had 9 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Lindholm or Rakell?
- Against each other, Lindholm has won 2 and Rakell 5 of their 7 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 →