Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10.
Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Rakell has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Rakell's 2.0.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 50, Transition attempts /60 1.45, Sequence xG 57.2%.
Rakell's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 81, Hits 71, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 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
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kucherov | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.20 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.05 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Kucherov 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.
Kucherov 7G 16A, 50 SOG · Rakell 8G 3A, 45 SOG
Kucherov blocked 0 of Rakell's shots; Rakell blocked 1 of Kucherov's.
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
9:09 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–12
- 47.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.9
- 37.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | TBL 6–3 PIT | 1G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-13 | TBL 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-25 | TBL 6–1 PIT | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-12 | TBL 5–2 PIT | 2G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2024-11-19 | TBL 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-06 | TBL 4–5 PIT | 0G 3A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-02 | TBL 4–5 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-26 | TBL 3–7 PIT | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-10-15 | TBL 2–6 PIT | 0G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-01-21 | TBL 1–5 ANA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-01-31 | TBL 4–3 ANA | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2019-11-23 | TBL 6–2 ANA | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
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 RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10. Kucherov had 130 points in 77 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, Nikita Kucherov or Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kucherov and Rakell done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 8–7. Kucherov had 23 points (7 goals) and Rakell had 11 (8 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 →