Who to start · 2025-26
Rickard Rakell vs Robert Thomas
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Robert Thomas's 1.89.
Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 games.
This week Rakell has 1 game left; Thomas has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.1 ESPN points to Thomas's 2.0.
Robert Thomas has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Rakell's biggest edges: Hits 71, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Hardest shot 88.0.
Thomas's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 52.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.024, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.004.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Robert Thomas
1.89
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rakell | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.75 | 0.73 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.44 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.29 |
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: Rakell vs Thomas
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rakell 4G 5A, 50 SOG · Thomas 4G 9A, 26 SOG
Rakell's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 1–1 · Rakell's defensive zone 0–0 (2018-19 to 2024-25)
Rakell blocked 0 of Thomas's shots; Thomas blocked 1 of Rakell's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rakell | Thomas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-03 | PIT 4–5 STL | 1G 1A 5S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-13 | PIT 5–3 STL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-12-30 | PIT 4–2 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-10-21 | PIT 2–4 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-02-25 | PIT 3–2 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-03 | PIT 6–2 STL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-05-05 | ANA 3–2 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-05-03 | ANA 1–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2021-03-28 | ANA 3–2 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-03-26 | ANA 4–1 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-01-31 | ANA 1–4 STL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-01-30 | ANA 1–6 STL | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Rickard Rakell
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.1 pts
Robert Thomas
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Rickard Rakell or Robert Thomas 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 Robert Thomas's 1.89. Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 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, Rickard Rakell or Robert Thomas?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Robert Thomas leads in 25 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rakell and Thomas done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Rakell's team went 9–8. Rakell had 9 points (4 goals) and Thomas had 13 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rakell or Thomas?
- Against each other, Rakell has won 3 and Thomas 1 of their 4 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 →