Rickard Rakell Bio
Rickard Lars Gunnar Roland Rakell is a Swedish professional ice hockey right winger for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Rakell has played a significant role in his team’s success throughout his career, contributing to the Anaheim Ducks’ multiple playoff appearances and later helping the Penguins remain competitive in the Eastern Conference. Known for his scoring ability and playmaking skills, he has represented Sweden in international competitions, helping them win gold at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. Rakell was selected 30th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and has established himself as a reliable offensive contributor at the NHL level.
Early Life and Background
Rakell was born on May 5, 1993, in Sollentuna, Sweden, to parents Roland and Annika. He grew up in Stockholm alongside his brother Robin and sister Rebecka. His grandfather Åke Rakell was a professional table tennis player, and Rickard followed in those footsteps by playing the sport until he was 14 years old. At that point, he decided to dedicate his focus entirely to ice hockey. Growing up in Stockholm, Rakell idolized Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mats Sundin and later Patric Hornqvist. Rakell’s cousin Mathias also plays ice hockey.
While growing up in Sweden, Rakell played for AIK IF in both the J18 Elit and J20 Elit leagues. He originally played in a defensive role until he was 14, when he switched to forward to score more goals. After recording 25 points in the J18 Allsvenskan and four points in the J20, Rakell was drafted 41st overall by the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) 2010 Import Draft. He later stated that fellow Swede Gabriel Landeskog was a major influence in encouraging him to move to North America, as Landeskog had already begun playing in the OHL and was proving very successful.
Path to NHL
Upon moving to North America, Rakell began his rookie season with the Plymouth Whalers during the 2010-11 OHL campaign. He originally enrolled in a local high school but eventually dropped out due to his lack of North American-based knowledge and later earned the equivalent of a high school diploma online. Rakell began the season strong by tallying 23 points through his first 25 OHL games and earned a spot in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He finished his rookie season with 20 goals and 43 points in 49 games.
The 2011-12 season proved to be a breakout year for Rakell with the Whalers. He surpassed his previous season’s totals in goals, assists, and points. By late January, he had recorded 22 goals and 23 assists for 45 points through 39 games. As the Whalers qualified for the OHL playoffs, Rakell was voted Best Defensive Forward in the Western Conference Coaches Poll. He finished the postseason leading the Whalers with 10 assists while ranking third in points with 12.
Rickard Rakell Career
Early Career (2012-2016)
During the offseason following his final OHL season, Rakell signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks on July 3, 2012. He participated in the Ducks’ training camp before being returned to the OHL for the 2012-13 season, his final year of major junior hockey. While the NHL was experiencing a lockout, Rakell accumulated 13 goals and 17 assists through 32 games with the Whalers.
He made his NHL debut on January 19, 2013, against the Vancouver Canucks, becoming the sixth youngest player to appear in a game for the Ducks at 19 years, eight months and 14 days. To avoid burning the first year of his entry-level contract, Rakell was reassigned to the Whalers on February 13, after going scoreless with a minus-2 rating in four games. He finished the 2012-13 regular season with 21 goals and 23 assists for 44 points through 40 games.
After attending the Ducks’ 2013 training camp, Rakell was assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, to begin the 2013-14 season. He was recalled to the NHL level on November 3 and made his season debut while eventually tallying his first career NHL point, an assist, on November 8, 2013, in a game against the Buffalo Sabres. As the Ducks qualified for the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, Rakell made his postseason debut and scored his first career NHL goal on the power play during Game 5, becoming the first player in franchise history to score their first career goal in the playoffs.
Anaheim Ducks Breakthrough (2015-2018)
The 2015-16 season saw Rakell originally start centring the Ducks’ third line before moving to the top line alongside Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf as the season progressed. In late November 2015, Rakell was moved to left wing of Getzlaf and Perry, and the trio immediately developed chemistry. On November 24, Rakell and Perry scored two goals apiece and the trio combined for 10 points total in a 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames. However, Rakell was sidelined due to appendicitis near the end of the regular season and missed the remainder of the season following his appendectomy.
The 2016-17 season marked a significant breakthrough for Rakell. He signed a six-year contract with an average annual value of $3.8 million on October 14, 2016. Rakell finished the regular season with a career-high 33 goals, including a league-leading 10 game-winning goals, and 51 points through 71 games. He became the fourth-youngest Ducks player to eclipse 30 goals in a season and the first NHL player under the age of 24 with 10 game-winning goals since Steven Stamkos during the 2011-12 season.
During the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, Rakell continued to excel by tallying seven goals and 13 points through 15 playoff games. When the Ducks met with the Edmonton Oilers in the second round, Rakell was reunited with Getzlaf on the Ducks’ top line. During Game 5, Rakell, Getzlaf, and Cam Fowler scored for Anaheim in the final 3:16 of regulation to lead them to an eventual win, becoming the only team in NHL history to win a playoff game in overtime after trailing by three or more goals with less than four minutes to play.
The 2017-18 season proved to be Rakell’s most productive. He recorded his first career NHL hat-trick on February 25, 2018, in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Rakell became the second player since the 1967 NHL expansion draft to tie a game with two goals in the last minute of regulation to force overtime and the first to score a hat trick with two or more goals in the final 30 seconds. He finished the season with new career-highs in goals, assists, and points through 77 games and became the first player to lead the Ducks in points other than Getzlaf, Perry, or Teemu Selänne since Sergei Fedorov in 2003-04.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2022-Present)
On March 21, 2022, with Anaheim out of a playoff spot and with Rakell set to become an unrestricted free agent, the Ducks traded Rakell to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick, Dominik Simon, Zach Aston-Reese, and Calle Clang. He made his debut with the team on March 22, in a 5-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, playing 14:08 minutes of ice time on 17 shifts while playing mostly on the team’s third line. He finished the season with four goals and nine assists for 13 points through 19 regular-season games with the Penguins.
During the 2022 off-season, Rakell signed a six-year, $30 million contract extension with the Penguins. General manager Ron Hextall praised Rakell for being a versatile and offensively impactful player for the team. He returned to the Penguins as a right winger on their first line beside Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. Despite being moved between the first and second lines as the 2022-23 season progressed, Rakell continued to improve and earned praise from head coach Mike Sullivan who highlighted his skill element and ability to create something out of nothing.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rakell is known for his versatility as a forward who can play both wing and centre positions. His strengths include his scoring ability, playmaking skills, and hockey sense that allows him to contribute offensively in various situations. He has demonstrated the ability to play on different lines and produce consistently, whether on the top line with star players or on secondary lines. His career-high 10 game-winning goals during the 2016-17 season highlighted his clutch performance in crucial moments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Rakell has achieved several notable milestones. His first career NHL goal in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs made him the first player in Ducks franchise history to score their first career goal in the playoffs. His first career hat-trick against Edmonton in February 2018 came with historic circumstances, becoming only the second player since the 1967 NHL expansion draft to tie a game with two goals in the final minute of regulation to force overtime. Rakell reached his 500th career NHL game during the 2021-22 season with the Ducks.
Rickard Rakell Career Wins
Rakell has established himself as a consistent offensive contributor throughout his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins. His career highlights include multiple 30-goal seasons, playoff success with both organizations, and numerous game-winning goals that have helped his teams secure victories in crucial moments.
Anaheim Ducks Highlights
During his nine seasons with the Anaheim Ducks from 2013 to 2022, Rakell became one of the franchise’s most consistent scorers. He set numerous personal and franchise records during his tenure, including becoming the fourth-youngest Duck to eclipse 30 goals in a season during the 2016-17 campaign when he scored 33 goals. That season, he led the league with 10 game-winning goals, the most by any NHL player under the age of 24 since Steven Stamkos. His 2017-18 season proved even more productive as he finished with career-highs of 34 goals and 44 assists for 78 points while leading the team in points for the first time in franchise history since Sergei Fedorov accomplished the feat in 2003-04.
Pittsburgh Penguins Highlights
Since joining the Penguins in March 2022, Rakell has continued to be a reliable offensive contributor. He signed a six-year, $30 million extension with the team during the 2022 off-season, solidifying his role as a key piece of the Penguins’ forward core. Playing alongside stars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Rakell has provided secondary scoring and versatility that has helped keep the Penguins competitive in the Eastern Conference.
Rickard Rakell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Rakell was born into a sports-oriented family in Sollentuna, Sweden. His grandfather Åke Rakell was a professional table tennis player, which introduced young Rickard to competitive sports at an early age. Rickard followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by playing table tennis until he was 14, before focusing exclusively on ice hockey. His cousin Mathias also plays ice hockey, continuing the family’s sporting tradition.
Personal Life
Rakell is married to his wife Emmeli, whom he married in August 2021. While playing for the Ducks, Rakell and Emmeli created a charitable program called 67 Assists, referencing Rakell’s jersey number. The purpose of the charity was to provide opportunities for training service dogs in a live sporting event environment. The couple welcomed their daughter in June 2022 and their son in April 2025. Rakell maintains an active presence on social media, with his Instagram account @rickardrakell.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 NHL season saw Rakell continue his steady presence with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a key veteran contributor on their forward corps. Playing his sixth season with the organization following his mid-season acquisition in 2022, Rakell provided the Penguins with the offensive versatility and two-way play that had become hallmarks of his game. His ability to play both wing and centre positions gave head coach Mike Sullivan flexibility in constructing line combinations throughout the season.
Rakell’s experience proved invaluable as the Penguins looked to remain competitive in a challenging Metropolitan Division. His chemistry with various linemates, whether playing alongside Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel on the top line or with Evgeni Malkin on the second unit, demonstrated his adaptability. The Swedish forward continued to contribute in all situations, including the power play and penalty kill, showcasing the well-rounded game that had defined his career.
Internationally, Rakell represented Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025, selected to replace William Karlsson on Sweden’s roster. This participation highlighted his continued status as one of Sweden’s top NHL players and provided him with additional high-level competition experience as the NHL season progressed toward the stretch run and playoffs.