Who to start · 2025-26
Nico Hischier 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 Nico Hischier's 1.93.
Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Hischier has 1 game left; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Hischier's 1.9.
Nico Hischier has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hischier's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.070, Faceoff win % 55.8%, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.007.
Rakell's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1018, Luck Meter +16, Offensive-zone start % 66.1%.
- • 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
Nico Hischier
1.93
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 | Hischier | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 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: Hischier 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.
Hischier 7G 9A, 44 SOG · Rakell 3G 7A, 47 SOG
Hischier's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 3–2 · Hischier's defensive zone 1–1 (2024-25 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Hischier's side)
16:44 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Hischier's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–18
- 51.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.7
- 52.1%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hischier | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-09 | NJD 2–5 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2026-02-26 | NJD 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-08 | NJD 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-04-11 | NJD 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-15 | NJD 3–7 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-21 | NJD 3–0 PIT | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-02 | NJD 3–6 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-19 | NJD 5–2 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-04-04 | NJD 5–1 PIT | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-18 | NJD 5–2 PIT | 2G 2A 5S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-01-22 | NJD 2–1 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-30 | NJD 4–2 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
Nico Hischier
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.9 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
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 Nico Hischier 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 Nico Hischier's 1.93. Hischier had 66 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, Nico Hischier or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nico Hischier leads in 23 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hischier and Rakell done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Hischier's team went 9–8. Hischier had 16 points (7 goals) and Rakell had 10 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hischier or Rakell?
- Against each other, Hischier has won 5 and Rakell 3 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 →