Rickard Rakell is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who currently serves as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League.
Born on May 5, 1993, in Sollentuna, Sweden, he has built a solid NHL career known for his scoring ability, work ethic, and two-way play.
Rakell was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round, 30th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with the Ducks in 2013.
After nine seasons in Anaheim, where he emerged as a key offensive contributor, he was traded to the Penguins in 2022 and has since become a reliable top-six forward for Pittsburgh.
Siblings
Rickard grew up in the Stockholm suburb of Sollentuna alongside his older brother Robin and his sister Rebecka.
The three siblings were raised by their parents, Roland and Annika Rakell, in a sports-oriented household.
Rickard has spoken fondly of his close relationship with his family, particularly noting his bond with his mother and sister during his upbringing.
His brother Robin, however, followed a path in hockey as a defenseman.
Robin played in various Swedish leagues, including the J18 Elit and J20 SuperElit with teams like AIK, where he won a J18 SM Gold Medal.
He also competed in HockeyEttan, Division 2, and Norway’s second-tier league, spending time with clubs such as Nacka HK, Sollentuna HC, Forshaga IF, and Wings HC Arlanda.
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Career
Rakell’s hockey journey began with a focus on table tennis until age 14, after which he committed fully to ice hockey.
He progressed through Swedish youth ranks before being drafted by the Anaheim Ducks.
He spent time in the Ducks’ development system and made his NHL debut during the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, becoming the first player in franchise history to score his first career goal in the postseason.
Over his nine seasons with Anaheim, Rakell developed into a consistent scorer.
He set personal and franchise milestones, including a breakout 2016-17 campaign in which he led the Ducks with 33 goals and 51 points in 71 games and recorded a league-high 10 game-winning goals.
He helped the Ducks reach the playoffs five times during his tenure.
In March 2022, Rakell was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he has continued to contribute offensively while adapting to a new team environment.
In Pittsburgh, he has posted strong seasons, including a career-high 35 goals and 70 points in 2024-25.
Known for his speed, vision, and reliability in both ends of the ice, Rakell has played over 860 NHL games, accumulating more than 260 goals and 560 points through the 2025-26 season.
He has also represented Sweden internationally, earning gold and silver medals at the IIHF World U20 Championships and a gold medal with the senior team at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, where he was named to the All-Star Team.
Accolades
At the junior level, Rakell won a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF World U20 Championship and a silver in 2013.
In the NHL, he led the league with 10 game-winning goals in the 2016-17 season and was selected to the 2018 NHL All-Star Game.
Internationally, his standout performance at the 2018 IIHF World Championship resulted in a gold medal and selection to the tournament All-Star Team.
He has also been recognized for various youth achievements in Sweden, including a J18 SM Gold Medal.
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