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. Born in Sollentuna, Sweden, he has built a reputation as a skilled scorer and creative playmaker since entering the league in 2013. Rakell spent nine seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, where he set personal and franchise records, and helped Sweden win gold at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.
Early Life and Background
Rickard Lars Gunnar Roland Rakell was born on 5 May 1993 in Sollentuna, Sweden, a municipality just north of Stockholm. He grew up in the Stockholm area alongside his brother Robin and sister Rebecka, the son of Roland and Annika Rakell. His grandfather, Åke Rakell, was a professional table tennis player, and Rickard followed that path in his early years, playing table tennis until the age of 14.
As a child in Stockholm, Rakell idolized Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mats Sundin and later Patric Hornqvist, two Swedish stars who shaped his view of the game. He also grew up in a hockey family, as his cousin Mathias also plays the sport. When Rakell turned 14, he chose to focus fully on ice hockey, a decision that launched him toward a professional career. He originally played in a defensive role for AIK IF before switching to forward to boost his scoring output.
Path to Hockey
Rakell moved through the AIK IF youth system in the J18 Elit and J20 Elit leagues, where his offensive game began to stand out. After recording 25 points in the J18 Allsv and four points in the J20, he was selected 41st overall by the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League’s 2010 Import Draft. Fellow Swede Gabriel Landeskog, already thriving in the OHL, was a major influence in encouraging Rakell to make the move to North America.
After his rookie season with the Whalers, in which he tallied 20 goals and 43 points in 49 games, Rakell was projected as a first-round NHL pick. Following the NHL Combine, he was selected 30th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He returned to Plymouth for two more major-junior seasons, polishing his game before turning professional. He later earned the equivalent of a high school diploma online after originally dropping out of a local school due to language challenges.
Rickard Rakell Career
Early Career (2013-2015)
Rakell made his NHL debut on 19 January 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. After four scoreless games, he was reassigned to the Plymouth Whalers to avoid burning the first year of his entry-level contract. He finished his junior career strong, winning OHL Player of the Week honors in February 2013.
He began the 2013-14 season with the Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, and bounced between the AHL and NHL throughout the year. On 8 November 2013, he tallied his first career NHL point, an assist, against the Buffalo Sabres. During the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored his first career NHL goal on the power play in Game 5 against the Dallas Stars, becoming the first player in franchise history to score his first career goal in the playoffs. He also helped the Ducks set a franchise record with four power-play goals in that game.
NHL Breakthrough (2015-2018)
The 2016-17 season marked Rakell’s true arrival as an NHL scorer. After signing a six-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $3.8 million in October 2016, he overcame visa delays to debut on 1 November. He finished the year with a career-high 33 goals, including a league-leading 10 game-winning goals, and 51 points in 71 games, becoming the fourth-youngest Duck to reach the 30-goal mark and the first NHL player under 24 with 10 game-winning goals since Steven Stamkos.
He followed that up with another career year in 2017-18, finishing with new highs in goals, assists, and points through 77 games. He was the first player other than Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, or Teemu Selänne to lead the Ducks in points since Sergei Fedorov in 2003-04. During the 2017 playoffs, he helped the Ducks complete a historic comeback against the Edmonton Oilers, the only team in NHL history to win a playoff game in overtime after trailing by three or more goals with under four minutes remaining. On 25 February 2018, he recorded his first career NHL hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers, becoming the first player since the 1967 NHL expansion to score a hat trick with two or more goals in the final 30 seconds.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2022-Present)
On 21 March 2022, with Anaheim out of playoff contention, 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 debuted on 22 March in a 5-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, and finished the regular season with four goals and nine assists in 19 games alongside Evgeni Malkin. He played one period of Game 1 against the New York Rangers before an injury kept him out of the next five contests.
During the 2022 off-season, Rakell signed a six-year, $30 million contract extension with the Penguins. General manager Ron Hextall praised him as a versatile and offensively impactful player. He returned as a right winger on the first line beside Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, though he moved between lines and positions throughout 2022-23. Through 49 games, he had 18 goals and 15 assists, and head coach Mike Sullivan credited him for bringing a skill element and an ability to create offense out of nothing alongside Crosby.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rakell combines a powerful shot with strong playmaking instincts, making him dangerous on the power play and in tight offensive situations. His ability to play both wing and center gives coaches flexibility, and his chemistry with elite centers such as Ryan Getzlaf, Evgeni Malkin, and Sidney Crosby has produced consistent scoring. He reads the game well in transition, using his skating and vision to generate chances for linemates.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rakell’s first career NHL goal in the 2014 playoffs, which also set a franchise record, remains a defining early moment. His 2017-18 hat trick against Edmonton, his league-leading 10 game-winning goals in 2016-17, and his gold medal with Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Championship are signature highlights. He was also named to the Pacific Division roster for the 2018 NHL All-Star Game.
Rickard Rakell Career Wins
Rakell has accumulated consistent scoring production across more than 600 NHL regular-season games, including a career-high 33 goals in 2016-17 and 32 goals in 2017-18. He reached the 100th goal of his NHL career in October 2018 and recorded his 200th career point during the 2018-19 season. Internationally, he helped Sweden win gold at the 2012 World Junior Championships and the 2018 IIHF World Championship, where he was named to the tournament All-Star Team.
Anaheim Ducks Highlights
During his nine seasons with the Ducks, Rakell set numerous personal and franchise records and helped the team qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs five times. He became the first player in franchise history to score his first career goal in the playoffs, the first to lead the team in points other than Getzlaf, Perry, or Selänne since Sergei Fedorov, and the fourth-youngest Duck to reach 30 goals in a season. He played in his 500th career NHL game on 13 October 2021.
Pittsburgh Penguins Highlights
Since joining the Penguins in March 2022, Rakell has provided versatile scoring and two-way play on multiple lines. He helped Pittsburgh reach the 2022 playoffs and signed a long-term extension that summer. In 2022-23, he reached 18 goals and 15 assists through 49 games, earning praise from coach Mike Sullivan for his offensive creativity alongside Sidney Crosby.
Rickard Rakell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Rakell was raised in Sollentuna by his parents Roland and Annika alongside his brother Robin and sister Rebecka. His grandfather Åke Rakell was a professional table tennis player, and the family has a strong athletic tradition. His cousin Mathias also plays ice hockey, continuing the family’s connection to the sport.
Personal Life
While playing for the Ducks, Rakell and his wife Emmeli created a charitable program called 67 Assists, named after his jersey number, to provide training opportunities for service dogs in live sporting event environments. The couple married in August 2021, and their daughter was born in June 2022, followed by their son in April 2025.
2025 Season Performance
Rakell enters the 2025 season as a key veteran on the Pittsburgh Penguins roster, holding a contract that runs through the 2027-28 season. After a 2022-23 campaign in which he produced 18 goals and 15 assists through 49 games, he is expected to play a top-six role and contribute on the power play. His experience on lines with elite centers gives the Penguins flexibility in their forward combinations.
On 4 February 2025, Rakell was selected to replace William Karlsson on Sweden’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off, an honor that reflected his continued strong form and international pedigree. He followed that up on 2 January 2026 by being named to his first Swedish Olympic roster for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, a milestone in his career.
Heading into the new year, Rakell remains a reliable middle-six scorer and power-play threat, capable of moving between wing and center as needed. His combination of experience, scoring touch, and two-way responsibility makes him a steady presence as the Penguins continue to build around their veteran core.
