Who to start · 2025-26
Rickard Rakell vs Thomas Harley
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Thomas Harley's 1.82.
Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Harley had 36 in 70 games.
This week Rakell has 1 game left; Harley has 1 left. We project Harley for 2.2 ESPN points to Rakell's 2.0.
Rickard Rakell has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rakell's biggest edges: Goals above expected +0.3, Hardest shot 88.0, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42.
Harley's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.36, Faceoffs won 0, Penalty minutes 26.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Thomas Harley
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rakell | Harley |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.75 | 0.16 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.44 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.06 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.99 |
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 Harley
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rakell 1G 1A, 10 SOG · Harley 1G 3A, 7 SOG
On the ice against each other (Rakell's side)
4:19 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Rakell's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–4
- 42.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.3
- 29.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rakell | Harley |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | PIT 3–6 DAL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-04-05 | PIT 5–3 DAL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-11 | PIT 1–7 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-22 | PIT 2–4 DAL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-24 | PIT 1–4 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 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 (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
Thomas Harley
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B2.2 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Rickard Rakell or Thomas Harley 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 Thomas Harley's 1.82. Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Harley had 36 in 70 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 Thomas Harley?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 24 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 Harley done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Rakell's team went 1–4. Rakell had 2 points (1 goals) and Harley had 4 (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 →