PuckSleuth
67Pittsburgh Penguins · Right wing · Shoots R
Rickard Rakell
Age 33 · 6'1" · 190 lb · Born in Sundbyberg, SWE
Cap hit
$5M
4.8% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then UFA
Clause
M-NTC
8-team no-trade list
Surplus value
+$3.747M
vs. $8.747M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
1
0 primary
Points
1
1.00 per game
TOI/GP
18:32
PP 4:52 · PK 1:45
xGF%
76.2
5v5, +26.9 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.23
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
1 W · 1 L
Plus/minus
+1
Blocks 0 · Hits 3
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 @ PHI · W 7-0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 18:32 | 4:52 | 1:45 | 1-1 | 75 | 0 | 0 | +1 | -0.23 |
| Apr 29 @ PHI · OTL 1-0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 22:10 | 2:27 | 0:00 | 1-2 | 100 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.20 |
| Apr 27 vs PHI · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 20:59 | 3:12 | 0:00 | 0-1 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.65 |
| Apr 25 @ PHI · W 4-2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 17:25 | 2:12 | 0:44 | 0-2 | 75 | 1 | 1 | +1 | +0.56 |
| Apr 22 @ PHI · L 5-2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 24:34 | 7:54 | 0:00 | — | 83 | 2 | 0 | -1 | +0.18 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 825 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
51st percentile
34th percentile
52nd percentile
56th percentile
55th percentile
52nd percentile
75th percentile
70th percentile
29th percentile
96th percentile
47th percentile
33rd percentile
76th percentile
87th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleOffensive volume shooter
Trait percentiles vs. NHL wingers · 2025-26
Rakell is a high-volume scorer who excels at generating chances through relentless shooting and clean puck handling. He plays a pure offensive game with limited defensive awareness, relying on shot volume rather than physical play or strong positioning away from the puck.
- Shooting volume
- 81
- Playmaking
- 67
- Zone entries(est.)
- 55
- Forechecking
- 39
- Physicality
- 45
- Defensive impact
- 21
- Puck management
- 81
- Speed
- 75
Where he shoots from
Slot 66% · Mid-range 31% · Perimeter 3%(240 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite shot volume at 81st percentile drives scoring chances
- Outstanding puck management in 81st percentile keeps plays alive offensively
- Strong speed in 75th percentile helps him create scoring opportunities
Watch-outs
- Defensive impact ranks in just 21st percentile, a liability away from the puck
- Forechecking effort in 39th percentile limits his physical engagement
- Zone entries at 55th percentile suggest he needs cleaner approach plays
Similar style: Alex Tuch (WSH), Adrian Kempe (LAK)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 60 GP · goals above average
Season total +0.8 goals, or +0.01 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.5
- Even strength defense
- -0.7
- Power play
- +0.5
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Finishing
- -0.7
- Playmaking
- +0.4
- Penalties
- +1.3
- Faceoffs
- -0.6
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | Anaheim Ducks | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 8:57 | 47.6 | — |
| 2013-14 | Anaheim Ducks | 18 | 0 | 4 | 4 | -3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0.0 | 11:43 | 49.0 | — |
| 2014-15 | Anaheim Ducks | 71 | 9 | 22 | 31 | +6 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 105 | 8.6 | 12:34 | 46.6 | — |
| 2015-16 | Anaheim Ducks | 72 | 20 | 23 | 43 | -1 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 169 | 11.8 | 16:04 | 43.7 | — |
| 2016-17 | Anaheim Ducks | 71 | 33 | 18 | 51 | +10 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 177 | 18.6 | 17:23 | 42.2 | — |
| 2017-18 | Anaheim Ducks | 77 | 34 | 35 | 69 | +6 | 14 | 8 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 230 | 14.8 | 19:25 | 46.5 | — |
| 2018-19 | Anaheim Ducks | 69 | 18 | 25 | 43 | -13 | 27 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 194 | 9.3 | 18:28 | 35.4 | — |
| 2019-20 | Anaheim Ducks | 65 | 15 | 27 | 42 | -5 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 186 | 8.1 | 18:10 | 76.9 | — |
| 2020-21 | Anaheim Ducks | 52 | 9 | 19 | 28 | -14 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 144 | 6.3 | 17:50 | 33.3 | — |
| 2021-22 | Anaheim Ducks | 51 | 16 | 12 | 28 | -7 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 136 | 11.8 | 18:21 | 44.6 | — |
| 2021-22 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 19 | 4 | 9 | 13 | +7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 48 | 8.3 | 17:01 | 60.0 | — |
| 2022-23 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 28 | 32 | 60 | -5 | 16 | 11 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 243 | 11.5 | 18:26 | 47.6 | -0.02 |
| 2023-24 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 70 | 15 | 22 | 37 | +4 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 165 | 9.1 | 16:31 | 23.1 | -0.09 |
| 2024-25 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 81 | 35 | 35 | 70 | -22 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 203 | 17.2 | 19:18 | 42.2 | +0.09 |
| 2025-26 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 60 | 24 | 24 | 48 | -2 | 8 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 166 | 14.5 | 18:57 | 36.0 | +0.01 |
| 2026-27 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 18:29 | 50.0 | -0.23 |
| Career | 15 seasons | 864 | 260 | 309 | 569 | -39 | 182 | 64 | 148 | 1 | 34 | 2195 | 11.8 | 17:27 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Usage
Last game: @ PHI, Sep 30
Line 1 with Sidney Crosby and Nick Robertson (10:08 together at 5-on-5) · PP1
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Penguins Should Consider Using Rickard Rakell At Center
NHL Rumors - ProHockeyRumors.com · Oct 2
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average -0.30 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.2 mph
- 31st pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 2
- Hardest shot
- 67.5 mph
- 43rd pct
- Distance
- 3.1 mi
- OZ time
- 49.1%
- 90th pct
- DZ time
- 37.3%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 33, forwards typically produce 69% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 34, when the typical level is 63%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
2 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | PIT | $5M | 4.8% |
| 2027-28 | PIT | $5M | 4.4% |
UFA after 2027-28. M-NTC (8-team list). $10M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).