Who to start · 2025-26
Gabriel Vilardi 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 Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76.
Vilardi had 69 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Vilardi has 1 game left; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.1 ESPN points to Vilardi's 1.8.
Rickard Rakell has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Vilardi's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.014, Penalty minutes 24, Assists 39.
Rakell's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.8, Forecheck xG /60 0.35, 20+ mph bursts 99.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Gabriel Vilardi
1.76
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 | Vilardi | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.69 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 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: Vilardi vs Rakell
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Vilardi 2G 2A, 16 SOG · Rakell 4G 4A, 28 SOG
On the ice against each other (Vilardi's side)
3:13 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Vilardi's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–0
- 100.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Vilardi | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | WPG 4–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-22 | WPG 4–1 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-20 | WPG 6–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-02-10 | WPG 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-06 | WPG 0–3 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-20 | LAK 1–6 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2021-05-01 | LAK 2–6 ANA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-04-30 | LAK 2–1 ANA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-04-28 | LAK 2–3 ANA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-04-26 | LAK 4–1 ANA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-04-20 | LAK 4–1 ANA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-03-10 | LAK 5–1 ANA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Gabriel Vilardi
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOS
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET1.8 pts
Rickard Rakell
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.1 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Gabriel Vilardi 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 Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76. Vilardi had 69 points in 82 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, Gabriel Vilardi 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 Vilardi and Rakell done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Vilardi's team went 7–7. Vilardi had 4 points (2 goals) and Rakell had 8 (4 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 →