Rickard Rakell has been named to Team Sweden’s roster for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, marking his first selection to an Olympic team. Rakell expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, stating, “Obviously, super excited. It’s a dream come true for me to get the chance to play in the Olympics and represent my country. … I always thought it was a possibility. Anything can happen. Having a good year last year and still being able to go in the 4 Nations and show what I can do there. I’m excited to go there and do my best.”
Rakell’s family celebrated his achievement at home with Swedish-themed decorations. “It means a lot to me,” Rakell said. “They’re a big part of all the success. We’re doing all of this together. It means the world to me.”
Growing up near Stockholm, Rakell recalled watching Sweden win gold in 2006 as an important memory: “That’s a really strong memory for me to see all those guys play together,” he said. “(Nicklas) Lidstrom, (Mats) Sundin, (Peter) Forsberg, get one last chance to play together and win the gold medal, I just remember watching that game on TV. I still get goosebumps whenever I see highlights from that game.”
Rakell noted that he was playing junior hockey during the 2010 Olympics and beginning his professional career around 2014—the last time NHL players participated—so this opportunity has been long-awaited: “Obviously, that’s all you want. You never know if it’s a last chance that you get to play in a tournament like that,” Rakell said. “You’re thinking about it pretty much all of last year, all of summer and coming into this year.” He added: “You never know with injuries and all that that happens, what’s going to happen to you. … Even though you don’t want to think about it too much, you just try to focus on your game here and try to give your best every night. I was really excited to get the call.”
Following a difficult 2023-24 season, Rakell recorded personal highs during 2024-25 with 35 goals, 35 assists, and 70 points—achievements which helped secure his place on Team Sweden for both the NHL’s Four Nations Face-Off tournament and now for the Olympics.
Reflecting on lessons learned at Four Nations Face-Off alongside other Swedish players, he commented: “As a group, we learned something at the 4 Nations,” Rakell said of Sweden’s roster. “Going to the Olympics, I think we have a better view of what we can improve. And learn from our mistakes there to just try to give our best efforts in the Olympics.”
After starting strong in 2025-26 with eight points over nine games before undergoing hand surgery—and missing twenty subsequent games—Rakell’s inclusion on Team Sweden demonstrates confidence in his abilities by coaches and selectors.
Head Coach Dan Muse remarked on Rakell’s determination: “He put in a ton of work there just to get himself back and be in a good position,” Muse said. “A huge credit to him to be doing all those things that he needed to do to get back, and also to get back and be in a spot where he’s gonna be able to jump back in there and contribute, which he has. He’s a guy, too, who’s used in so many different situations, and that’s so important for this team. I’m really excited for him, and it’s very well deserved.”
Rakell will join fellow Swede Erik Karlsson—his teammate—on Team Sweden’s Olympic roster as well as Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup during NHL seasons official website. Karlsson described Rakell as follows: “I think he’s shown over the last couple of years that he’s a capable player in situations like that,” Karlsson said. “I think he had a good 4 Nations. He’s a guy who can play up and down the lineup, and a reliable guy. So I’m happy that he got the recognition for it, and very well deserved.”
