Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and forward Rickard Rakell have been selected to represent Team Sweden at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, which start on February 11.
Karlsson, in his 17th NHL season and third with Pittsburgh, has recorded three goals, 27 assists and 30 points through 39 games this season. The 35-year-old leads the Penguins and is fifth among all NHL defensemen in assists. His 30 points are the third highest on his team.
A three-time Norris Trophy winner, Karlsson has totaled 203 goals, 697 assists and 900 points over 1,123 career NHL games with Pittsburgh, San Jose and Ottawa. He ranks second in goals, first in assists and second in points among active defensemen. Among Swedish-born defensemen in league history, only Nicklas Lidstrom surpasses him in these categories. Karlsson’s assist and point totals are also among the top for all Swedish skaters.
This marks Karlsson’s second Olympic appearance after he led all players in points (4G-4A-8PTS) during the 2014 tournament where Sweden won silver and he was named “Best Defenseman.” Most recently, he represented Sweden at the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off, leading his team with three points in three games. In 2024, he captained Team Sweden to a bronze medal at the World Championship and was named to the All-Star Team after leading all defensemen with six goals. He previously medaled at the World Championship (bronze) in 2010 and World Junior Championship (silver) in 2009.
Rakell is playing his twelfth full NHL season—and fifth with Pittsburgh—recording four goals, nine assists and thirteen points over nineteen games so far this year. Last season was a career best for Rakell as he set highs in goals (35), assists (35), and total points (70), leading his team in goals and ranking second behind Sidney Crosby for overall points. Since the start of the previous season, only three other Swedish-born players have scored more than Rakell’s thirty-nine goals despite him missing twenty games due to injury.
In his career spanning both Pittsburgh and Anaheim Ducks teams, Rakell has registered two hundred forty goals—sixth most among active Swedish-born players—alongside two hundred ninety-two assists across eight hundred twenty-one NHL appearances.
The Sundbyberg native most recently played for Sweden at the Four Nations Face-Off tournament last year. His international medals include gold at the World Championship (2018), silver at the World Junior Championship (2013), and gold again at that same junior event in 2012.
The Milano Cortina tournament will be notable as it is the first Olympic hockey event featuring NHL players since Sochi’s games twelve years ago. Each of twelve national teams will play three preliminary round matches before entering a single-elimination playoff culminating with a gold medal game on February 22.
Team Sweden’s preliminary round schedule includes matchups against Italy on February 11 at 3:10 PM; Finland on February 13 at 6:10 AM; and Slovakia on February 14 at 6:10 AM.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, founded in Pittsburgh in 1967 as part of the National Hockey League expansion era, have established themselves as an important part of local sports culture while maintaining national prominence through multiple Stanley Cup wins. The organization hosts its home games at PPG Paints Arena downtown while also supporting community outreach programs focused on youth development.
