Who to start · 2025-26
Nick Suzuki vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Suzuki projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10.
Suzuki had 101 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Suzuki has 1 game left; Rakell has 1 left. We project Suzuki for 2.1 ESPN points to Rakell's 1.8.
Nick Suzuki has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Suzuki's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 50.4%, Draw Equity /100 −0.003, Penalty minutes 28.
Rakell's biggest edges: Goals above expected +0.3, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Ascension score 50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 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 Suzuki
2.43
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Suzuki has the edge.
| Points per game from | Suzuki | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.66 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.82 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.39 | 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: Suzuki vs Rakell
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Suzuki 4G 6A, 27 SOG · Rakell 5G 9A, 33 SOG
On the ice against each other (Suzuki's side)
7:09 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Suzuki's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–12
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–1.0
- 8.6%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Suzuki | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-21 | MTL 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-12-20 | MTL 4–0 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-12 | MTL 2–9 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 2A 4S |
| 2024-11-02 | MTL 1–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-10-14 | MTL 3–6 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-22 | MTL 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-27 | MTL 2–3 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2023-03-14 | MTL 6–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2022-11-12 | MTL 5–4 PIT | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-17 | MTL 3–2 PIT | 1G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-27 | MTL 4–5 ANA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2020-02-06 | MTL 3–2 ANA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 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
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 Suzuki
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOR
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT2.1 pts
Rickard Rakell
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nick Suzuki or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Suzuki projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10. Suzuki had 101 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 Suzuki or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Suzuki 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 Suzuki and Rakell done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Suzuki's team went 5–7. Suzuki had 10 points (4 goals) and Rakell had 14 (5 goals).
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 →