Rickard Rakell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rickard Rakell
Rakell with Sweden in 2012
Born	(1993-05-05) 5 May 1993 (age 32) Sollentuna, Sweden
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position	Winger
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Pittsburgh Penguins Anaheim Ducks
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	30th overall, 2011 Anaheim Ducks
Playing career	2013–present

Rickard Lars Gunnar Roland Rakell (born May 5, 1993) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player. He plays as a right winger for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Rakell was first drafted by the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2010. Later, the Anaheim Ducks picked him in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He spent nine seasons with the Ducks, setting many personal and team records. He also helped the Ducks reach the Stanley Cup playoffs five times. Rickard has also played for Sweden and Team Sweden at the senior level, winning gold at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.

Growing Up and Early Hockey

Rickard Rakell was born on May 5, 1993, in Sollentuna, Sweden. He grew up in Stockholm with his brother Robin and sister Rebecka. His grandfather, Åke Rakell, was a professional table tennis player. Rickard played table tennis until he was 14. Then, he decided to focus only on ice hockey.

When he was young, Rickard looked up to hockey stars like Mats Sundin and Patric Hornqvist. His cousin Mathias also plays ice hockey.

Junior Hockey Journey

Playing in Sweden

Rickard Rakell started playing hockey for AIK IF in Sweden. He played in both the J18 Elit and J20 leagues. Until he was 14, he played defense. Then, he switched to forward so he could score more goals.

After scoring 25 points in one league and 4 points in another, Rakell was chosen by the Plymouth Whalers. This happened in the 2010 Import Draft for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Another Swedish player, Gabriel Landeskog, helped convince Rickard to move to North America to play.

Life with the Plymouth Whalers

Rakell joined the Whalers for the 2010–11 season. He started strong, getting 23 points in his first 25 games. This earned him a spot in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He finished his first season with 20 goals and 43 points in 49 games.

After this, the Anaheim Ducks drafted him 30th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Rakell on stage during the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Rakell went back to the Whalers for the 2011–12 season. This was a great year for him! He scored more goals and assists than before. He ended the regular season with 28 goals and 34 assists in 60 games. He was even voted the Best Defensive Forward in his conference.

In the playoffs, Rakell led the Whalers with 10 assists. He helped his team win their first series.

Moving to the NHL

In 2012, Rakell signed a three-year contract with the Ducks. He started the 2012–13 season with the Whalers. But after the NHL lockout ended, he joined the Ducks.

He played his first NHL game on January 19, 2013, against the Vancouver Canucks. At 19 years old, he was one of the youngest players to play for the Ducks. To help him develop, the Ducks sent him back to the Whalers. He finished his junior hockey career with 21 goals and 23 assists in 40 games.

Professional Hockey Journey

Starting with the Anaheim Ducks

Rakell began the 2013–14 season with the Norfolk Admirals, the Ducks' minor league team. He played well and was called up to the NHL a few times. On November 8, 2013, he got his first NHL point, an assist, against the Buffalo Sabres.

He ended the season with the Ducks, playing 18 games and getting four assists.

Playoff Milestones

In the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, Rakell made his playoff debut. He scored his first NHL goal during Game 5 against the Dallas Stars. This made him the first player in Ducks history to score his first goal in the playoffs! The Ducks also set a team record for power-play goals in that game.

First Full NHL Season

Rakell played his first full NHL season in 2014–15. He scored his first regular-season NHL goal on December 23. On January 11, he had a huge game, scoring two goals and two assists. This tied a team record for points by a rookie in one game.

He helped the Ducks reach the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs. In the first round, he scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the Winnipeg Jets.

Growing into a Star

For the 2015–16, Rakell started on the third line. But he soon moved up to play with top players like Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. He quickly started scoring many points. By February, he was second on the team in goals.

However, he had to miss the end of the season due to appendicitis. He tried to return for the playoffs but wasn't fully healthy.

Big Contract and Big Goals

After surgery, Rakell signed a new six-year contract with the Ducks in October 2016. He started the 2016–17 with a bang, scoring a goal and two assists in his first game. He kept scoring and quickly became one of the team's top players.

He finished the season with a career-high 33 goals and 51 points. He also led the league with 10 game-winning goals! He was the fourth-youngest Duck to score 30 goals in a season.

Playoff Success and All-Star

Rakell continued to shine in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. He scored seven goals and 13 points in 15 playoff games. He helped the Ducks sweep the Calgary Flames in the first round. He also played a key role in a historic comeback against the Edmonton Oilers.

In the 2017–18, Rakell kept up his strong play. He scored his first NHL hat-trick on February 25, 2018. He also became an All-Star for the first time. He finished the season with new career highs in goals (34), assists (35), and points (69).

Later Years with the Ducks

The next few seasons saw Rakell continue to be a key player for the Ducks. In 2018–19, he scored his 100th career goal. He also played his 400th NHL game in the 2019–20.

During the 2020–21, Rakell reached his 500th career NHL game. He continued to be a top scorer for the team.

Joining the Pittsburgh Penguins

On March 21, 2022, Rakell was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He joined the team and quickly made an impact. He played alongside star players like Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. In his first 13 games with the Penguins, he scored 3 goals and 7 assists.

Rakell signed a new six-year contract with the Penguins in the summer of 2022. He continued to be a versatile player, moving between different lines. His coach, Mike Sullivan, praised his skill and ability to create scoring chances.

Playing for Sweden

Rickard Rakell has proudly played for his home country, Sweden, many times.

Junior International Play

• 2011 World Juniors: He was the youngest player on Team Sweden. They finished fourth.
• 2012 World Juniors: He helped Sweden win a gold medal! He scored two goals and three assists.
• 2013 World Juniors: He helped Sweden win a silver medal.

Senior International Play

• 2018 IIHF World Championship: Rakell made his debut for the senior team. He helped Team Sweden win a gold medal! He scored six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 10 games. He was also named to the tournament's All-Star Team.

Personal Life

While playing for the Ducks, Rickard and his wife, Emmeli, started a charity program called "67 Assists." This program helped train service dogs by giving them experience in loud sports environments. Rickard and Emmeli welcomed their first child in 2022.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2010	Sweden	U17			6	1	1	2	2
2011	Sweden	WJC	4th		5	0	3	3	2
2012	Sweden	WJC			6	2	3	5	4
2013	Sweden	WJC			6	0	6	6	16
2018	Sweden	WC			10	6	8	14	6
2021	Sweden	WC	9th		7	1	1	2	0
Junior totals					23	3	13	16	24
Senior totals					17	7	9	16	6

Awards and Honors