Who to start · 2025-26
Nick Schmaltz 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 Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Rakell has 1 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.8 ESPN points to Rakell's 2.1.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Sequence xG 55.9%, Penalty minutes 28.
Rakell's biggest edges: Hits 71, Forecheck xG /60 0.35, Ascension score 50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
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 | Schmaltz | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.47 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 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: Schmaltz 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.
Schmaltz 2G 12A, 45 SOG · Rakell 2G 7A, 44 SOG
Schmaltz's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 2–1 · Schmaltz's defensive zone 0–0 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Schmaltz blocked 1 of Rakell's shots; Rakell blocked 0 of Schmaltz's.
On the ice against each other (Schmaltz's side)
6:25 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–3
- 76.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.0
- 87.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schmaltz | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | UTA 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-14 | UTA 5–4 PIT | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-29 | UTA 2–3 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-11-23 | UTA 6–1 PIT | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-01-08 | ARI 1–4 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-13 | ARI 2–6 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2021-12-17 | ARI 6–5 ANA | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-03-18 | ARI 2–3 ANA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2021-03-20 | ARI 5–1 ANA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-02-24 | ARI 4–3 ANA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-02-22 | ARI 4–3 ANA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2021-01-28 | ARI 3–2 ANA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 19 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.
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 6th-most FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.8 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Rickard Rakell
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RW
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.1 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to RW
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nick Schmaltz 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 Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Schmaltz had 74 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, Nick Schmaltz or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz 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 Schmaltz and Rakell done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 9–10. Schmaltz had 14 points (2 goals) and Rakell had 9 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Schmaltz or Rakell?
- Against each other, Schmaltz has won 2 and Rakell 1 of their 3 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 →