Who to start · 2025-26
Rickard Rakell vs Steven Stamkos
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Steven Stamkos's 2.00.
Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 games.
This week Rakell has 1 game left; Stamkos has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Stamkos's 2.0.
Steven Stamkos has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Rakell's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Plus/minus −2, Offensive-zone start % 66.1%.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.085, Faceoff win % 57.7%, Penalty minutes 58.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Steven Stamkos
2.00
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rakell | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.75 | 0.96 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.44 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.21 |
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 Stamkos
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rakell 5G 5A, 33 SOG · Stamkos 5G 4A, 35 SOG
Rakell blocked 1 of Stamkos's shots; Stamkos blocked 0 of Rakell's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rakell | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-01 | PIT 3–0 NSH | 0G 2A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-19 | PIT 5–4 NSH | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-06 | PIT 5–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2023-03-02 | PIT 5–4 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-26 | PIT 7–3 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-15 | PIT 6–2 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-01-21 | ANA 5–1 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2020-01-31 | ANA 3–4 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2018-11-27 | ANA 3–1 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2017-11-12 | ANA 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2017-10-28 | ANA 4–1 TBL | 2G 0A 2S | 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 RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Steven Stamkos
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Rickard Rakell or Steven Stamkos 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 Steven Stamkos's 2.00. Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Stamkos had 66 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 Steven Stamkos?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Steven Stamkos leads in 23 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 Stamkos done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Rakell's team went 9–2. Rakell had 10 points (5 goals) and Stamkos had 9 (5 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 →