Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 52.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.016, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001.
Rakell's biggest edges: Plus/minus −2, Forecheck xG /60 0.35, Ascension score 50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 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: Zibanejad 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.
Zibanejad 9G 19A, 64 SOG · Rakell 6G 7A, 62 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 4–1 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 1–0 (2024-25 to 2025-26)
Zibanejad blocked 3 of Rakell's shots; Rakell blocked 1 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
23:57 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 23–19
- 54.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.7
- 49.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | NYR 3–2 PIT | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-01-31 | NYR 5–6 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2025-10-11 | NYR 6–1 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-07 | NYR 0–3 PIT | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-02-23 | NYR 5–3 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-07 | NYR 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-06 | NYR 4–2 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-10-09 | NYR 6–0 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-01 | NYR 2–5 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-16 | NYR 7–4 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-18 | NYR 6–0 PIT | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-16 | NYR 4–2 PIT | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 24 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.
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.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 Mika Zibanejad or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 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, Mika Zibanejad or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 24 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zibanejad and Rakell done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 15–9. Zibanejad had 28 points (9 goals) and Rakell had 13 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Rakell?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 7 and Rakell 1 of their 8 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 →