Who to start · 2025-26
Rickard Rakell vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Rakell has 1 game left; Bennett has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.9.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Rakell's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Ascension score 50, Top skating speed 22.8.
Bennett's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 82, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018, Draw Equity /100 −0.018.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rakell | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.75 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.44 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.19 |
| 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 Bennett
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.
Rakell 6G 8A, 48 SOG · Bennett 3G 2A, 41 SOG
Rakell's offensive zone 1–2 · neutral 0–2 · Rakell's defensive zone 0–2 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Rakell's side)
5:16 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rakell's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–3
- 62.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 89.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rakell | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-05 | PIT 5–2 FLA | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-04 | PIT 9–4 FLA | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-23 | PIT 5–3 FLA | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-23 | PIT 3–4 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-03 | PIT 2–3 FLA | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-03 | PIT 5–4 FLA | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-14 | PIT 2–5 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-26 | PIT 2–3 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-04 | PIT 1–4 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2022-12-15 | PIT 4–2 FLA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2020-02-17 | ANA 4–6 CGY | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-13 | ANA 0–6 CGY | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 18 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)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RW
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RW
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to C
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Rickard Rakell or Sam Bennett 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 Sam Bennett's 1.74. Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 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 Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 19 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 Bennett done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Rakell's team went 8–10. Rakell had 14 points (6 goals) and Bennett had 5 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rakell or Bennett?
- Against each other, Rakell has won 1 and Bennett 6 of their 7 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 →