Who to start · 2025-26
Rickard Rakell vs Vladimir Tarasenko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52.
Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 games.
This week Rakell has 1 game left; Tarasenko has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Tarasenko's 1.2.
Rickard Rakell has the better number in 25 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rakell's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 66.1%, Top skating speed 22.8, Corsi 49.9%.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.018, Transition attempts /60 1.12, Goals above expected +4.0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Vladimir Tarasenko
1.52
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rakell | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.80 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.36 | 0.22 |
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 Tarasenko
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 2A, 49 SOG · Tarasenko 5G 9A, 52 SOG
Rakell blocked 1 of Tarasenko's shots; Tarasenko blocked 1 of Rakell's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rakell | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12-31 | PIT 2–4 DET | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-13 | PIT 2–3 DET | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-10-10 | PIT 6–3 DET | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-23 | PIT 4–5 OTT | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-28 | PIT 2–5 OTT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-03-18 | PIT 0–6 NYR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-16 | PIT 2–4 NYR | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-12 | PIT 3–2 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2022-12-03 | PIT 6–2 STL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2021-12-12 | ANA 3–2 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-05-03 | ANA 1–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-03-28 | ANA 3–2 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 18 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)
2.0proj. 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)
Vladimir Tarasenko
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.2 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Rickard Rakell or Vladimir Tarasenko 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 Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52. Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 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 Vladimir Tarasenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 25 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rakell and Tarasenko done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Rakell's team went 8–10. Rakell had 7 points (5 goals) and Tarasenko had 14 (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 →