Who to start · 2025-26
Rickard Rakell vs Travis Sanheim
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Travis Sanheim's 1.84.
Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Sanheim had 37 in 81 games.
This week Rakell has 1 game left; Sanheim has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.1 ESPN points to Sanheim's 1.7.
Rickard Rakell has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rakell's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 66.1%, Offensive-zone time 44.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.35.
Sanheim's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.48, Faceoffs won 0, Sequence xG 52.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Travis Sanheim
1.84
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rakell | Sanheim |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.75 | 0.36 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.44 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.02 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.14 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.92 |
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 Sanheim
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 10G 13A, 67 SOG · Sanheim 3G 7A, 37 SOG
Rakell blocked 0 of Sanheim's shots; Sanheim blocked 7 of Rakell's.
On the ice against each other (Rakell's side)
69:10 at 5-on-5 over 9 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Rakell's side
- Shot attempts
- 92–60
- 60.5%
- Expected goals
- 3.3–2.7
- 54.9%
- Goals
- 3–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rakell | Sanheim |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-30 | PIT 7–0 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | PIT 0–1 PHI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | PIT 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-25 · PO | PIT 4–2 PHI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-22 · PO | PIT 2–5 PHI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-04-20 · PO | PIT 0–3 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-18 · PO | PIT 2–3 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-07 | PIT 3–4 PHI | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-15 | PIT 6–3 PHI | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-27 | PIT 5–4 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-25 | PIT 1–6 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-08 | PIT 2–3 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 25 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)
2.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.1 pts
Travis Sanheim
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.7 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Rickard Rakell or Travis Sanheim 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 Travis Sanheim's 1.84. Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Sanheim had 37 in 81 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 Travis Sanheim?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 18 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 Sanheim done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Rakell's team went 13–12. Rakell had 23 points (10 goals) and Sanheim had 10 (3 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 →