Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 61, Sequence xG 53.9%, Plus/minus +13.
Rakell's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Top skating speed 22.8, Blocked shots 43.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 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: Malkin 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.
Malkin 4G 4A, 15 SOG · Rakell 2G 2A, 13 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Malkin's defensive zone 0–0 (2017-18)
Malkin blocked 2 of Rakell's shots; Rakell blocked 4 of Malkin's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
98:09 at 5-on-5 over 24 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 113–86
- 56.8%
- Expected goals
- 7.2–4.4
- 61.9%
- Goals
- 9–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-01-11 | PIT 4–1 ANA | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2020-02-28 | PIT 2–3 ANA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-01-11 | PIT 7–4 ANA | 1G 3A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2018-01-17 | PIT 3–5 ANA | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2017-12-23 | PIT 0–4 ANA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
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.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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 Evgeni Malkin or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10. Malkin had 61 points in 56 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, Evgeni Malkin or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin 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 Malkin and Rakell done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 2–3. Malkin had 8 points (4 goals) and Rakell had 4 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Rakell?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 0 and Rakell 1 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 →