Who to start · 2025-26
Mikko Rantanen vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10.
Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Rantanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Rantanen's 1.6.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 93, Sequence xG 54.3%, Expected goals 54.4%.
Rakell's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Forecheck xG /60 0.35, Corsi 49.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rantanen | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Rantanen 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.
Rantanen 14G 15A, 83 SOG · Rakell 2G 7A, 62 SOG
Rantanen's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Rantanen's defensive zone 1–1 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Rantanen blocked 1 of Rakell's shots; Rakell blocked 1 of Rantanen's.
On the ice against each other (Rantanen's side)
6:35 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Rantanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–6
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.2
- 51.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rantanen | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | DAL 6–3 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-04-05 | DAL 3–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-10 | COL 6–2 PIT | 3G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-24 | COL 5–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-26 | COL 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-22 | COL 2–5 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-07 | COL 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-05 | COL 6–4 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-02 | COL 3–2 PIT | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-19 | COL 2–0 ANA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-02 | COL 4–2 ANA | 1G 2A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-24 | COL 5–2 ANA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 25 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.
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
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 Mikko Rantanen or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10. Rantanen had 77 points in 64 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, Mikko Rantanen or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Rantanen and Rakell done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Rantanen's team went 16–9. Rantanen had 29 points (14 goals) and Rakell had 9 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rantanen or Rakell?
- Against each other, Rantanen has won 1 and Rakell 1 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 →