Who to start · 2025-26
Rickard Rakell vs Ryan Leonard
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Leonard's 1.59.
Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Leonard had 45 in 75 games.
This week Rakell has 1 game left; Leonard has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Leonard's 1.8.
Rickard Rakell has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rakell's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.35, Offensive-zone start % 66.1%, High-danger chances 52.6%.
Leonard's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.71, Penalty minutes 47, Hardest shot 93.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Ryan Leonard
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rakell | Leonard |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.75 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.44 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.17 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.19 |
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 Leonard
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rakell 0G 1A, 7 SOG · Leonard 2G 1A, 6 SOG
On the ice against each other (Rakell's side)
7:06 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rakell's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–11
- 42.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–1.3
- 20.1%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rakell | Leonard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-12 | PIT 0–3 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-04-11 | PIT 3–6 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-17 | PIT 5–2 WSH | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
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)
2.0proj. 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)
Ryan Leonard
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 11th-most FP to RWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows the most FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Rickard Rakell or Ryan Leonard 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 Ryan Leonard's 1.59. Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Leonard had 45 in 75 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 Ryan Leonard?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rakell and Leonard done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Rakell's team went 1–2. Rakell had 1 points (0 goals) and Leonard had 3 (2 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 →