Who to start · 2025-26
Leon Draisaitl vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10.
Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Draisaitl has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Draisaitl for 2.0 ESPN points to Rakell's 2.0.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.077, Faceoff win % 56.9%, Sequence xG 55.4%.
Rakell's biggest edges: Blocked shots 43, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Hits 71.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Draisaitl | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.19 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.96 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.10 | 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: Draisaitl 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.
Draisaitl 12G 19A, 66 SOG · Rakell 11G 7A, 66 SOG
Draisaitl's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Draisaitl's defensive zone 1–0 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Draisaitl's side)
5:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Draisaitl's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–4
- 71.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.3
- 72.7%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Draisaitl | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-22 | EDM 2–6 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-16 | EDM 6–4 PIT | 0G 4A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-01-09 | EDM 3–5 PIT | 2G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-25 | EDM 4–0 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-10 | EDM 4–0 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-03 | EDM 6–1 PIT | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-02-23 | EDM 7–2 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-24 | EDM 6–3 PIT | 1G 2A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-26 | EDM 5–1 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-02-17 | EDM 7–3 ANA | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-10-19 | EDM 6–5 ANA | 2G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-25 | EDM 3–4 ANA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
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 Leon Draisaitl or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 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, Leon Draisaitl or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 27 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Draisaitl and Rakell done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 13–7. Draisaitl had 31 points (12 goals) and Rakell had 18 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Draisaitl or Rakell?
- Against each other, Draisaitl has won 2 and Rakell 0 of their 2 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 →