Who to start · 2025-26
Rickard Rakell vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Rakell has 1 game left; Malinski has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.1.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Rakell's biggest edges: Ascension score 50, Ice time per game 18:57, Ice-time share 31.1%.
Malinski's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.77, Sequence xG 61.8%, Expected goals 62.1%.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Sam Malinski
1.44
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rakell | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.75 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.44 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.64 |
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 Malinski
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 2G 1A, 11 SOG · Malinski 1G 1A, 8 SOG
Rakell blocked 0 of Malinski's shots; Malinski blocked 1 of Rakell's.
On the ice against each other (Rakell's side)
4:28 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rakell's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–7
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 46.4%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rakell | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | PIT 2–6 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-03-16 | PIT 7–2 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-04 | PIT 1–4 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-10 | PIT 2–6 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
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)
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.1 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Rickard Rakell or Sam Malinski 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 Malinski's 1.44. Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 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 Malinski?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Rakell and Malinski done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Rakell's team went 1–3. Rakell had 3 points (2 goals) and Malinski had 2 (1 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 →