Who to start · 2025-26
Rickard Rakell vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.09.
Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Rakell has no games left; Crosby has no games left.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Rakell's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Blocked shots 43, Shorthanded points 2.
Crosby's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.063, Faceoff win % 55.2%, Penalty minutes 44.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Rickard Rakell
2.09
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.13
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rakell | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.71 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.47 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.35 | 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 Crosby
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rakell 2G 2A, 23 SOG · Crosby 1G 4A, 15 SOG
Rakell's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Rakell's defensive zone 0–0 (2021-22)
Rakell blocked 6 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 1 of Rakell's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
607:05 at 5-on-5 over 49 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 645–597
- 51.9%
- Expected goals
- 27.3–28.4
- 49.0%
- Goals
- 31–23
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rakell | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-01-11 | ANA 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-12-11 | ANA 0–1 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-28 | ANA 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-10-10 | ANA 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 8S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2019-01-11 | ANA 4–7 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2018-01-17 | ANA 5–3 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2017-12-23 | ANA 4–0 PIT | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
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 (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Sidney Crosby
2games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTLOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Rickard Rakell or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.09. Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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 Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 24 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 Crosby done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Rakell's team went 3–4. Rakell had 4 points (2 goals) and Crosby had 5 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rakell or Crosby?
- Against each other, Rakell has won 1 and Crosby 0 of their 1 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 →