Who to start · 2026-27
Maxim Shabanov vs Rickard Rakell
In 2026-27, Rickard Rakell scored 1.71 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Maxim Shabanov's 1.64.
Shabanov had 13 points in 21 games; Rakell had 11 in 20 games.
This week Shabanov has no games left; Rakell has no games left.
Rickard Rakell has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Shabanov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.1, Luck Meter +22, Ascension score 83.
Rakell's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.36, High-danger chances 60.0%, Scoring chances 56.7%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Rickard Rakell rates ahead, +0.1 to -0.1 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Shabanov is rising, ixG/60 1.30 (was 0.70); Rakell is cooling, ixG/60 0.98 (was 1.25).
- • Shabanov, last 10 games (Oct 25–Nov 14): 6 G, 1 A, 5 PPP, 19 SOG.
- • Rakell, last 10 games (Oct 22–Nov 14): 5 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 24 SOG.
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Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (6 categories), Rickard Rakell has the edge (Shabanov wins 2, Rakell wins 4 of 6 categories).
| Category | Shabanov | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.38 | 0.30 |
| Assists / game | 0.24 | 0.25 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.19 | -0.15 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.43 | 0.20 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.48 | 2.40 |
| Hits / game | 0.62 | 1.25 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Shabanov vs Rakell
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Shabanov 1G 0A, 1 SOG · Rakell 1G 1A, 2 SOG
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Shabanov | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-09 | NYI 3–4 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Maxim Shabanov
3games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Nov 10 @ MTLOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jacob Fowler (.926)
- Thu, Nov 12 @ TOROpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Anthony Stolarz (.905)
- Sat, Nov 14 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.906)
Rickard Rakell
2games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Nov 11 @ SJSOpp allows 14th-most FP to RWLikely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.890)
- Sat, Nov 14 vs OTTOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.939)
Player data stories
How the game changed, told through the numbers.
- In 2022-23, Four NHL Players Wore a Number in the 90s for Every One in No. 9 The count was 53 to 13, and the incomplete 2025-26 rosters show the same split, 51 to 12.
- The 1,000-Game Club Had Its Biggest Year. Getting In Is No Easier. Seventeen players reached 1,000 NHL games in 2025-26, more than in any season before, in the biggest league the NHL has had.
- Only 14 NHL Defencemen Still Score Like Ken Daneyko A stay-at-home defenceman stays back to defend and leaves the scoring to others.
- How Much Lighter Did the NHL Really Get? Teams write down NHL weights.
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Maxim Shabanov or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Rickard Rakell scored 1.71 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Maxim Shabanov's 1.64. Shabanov had 13 points in 21 games; Rakell had 11 in 20 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, Maxim Shabanov or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Shabanov and Rakell done against each other?
- In 1 games against each other in our data, Shabanov's team went 0–1. Shabanov had 1 points (1 goals) and Rakell had 2 (1 goals).
2026-27 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 →