Pittsburgh Review

After a challenging 2023-24 season, Rickard Rakell has found his form again. Pittsburgh's President of Hockey Operations and GM, Kyle Dubas, expressed confidence in a potential rebound, saying, “I’m confident that he will,” and added, “I look forward to that happening.”

Rakell, 31, set a personal record of 35 goals against Boston, having played his 800th NHL game in New Jersey. He matched his career-high of 69 points, although it was bittersweet after a disappointing match. He noted, “obviously, it feels way better than it did last year.”

Following a rough start and an injury last season, the Penguins pushed Rakell to have a strong off-season. He worked with the team's Director of High Performance, Marty Lauzon, and Director of Performance and Sport Science, Jesse Green, focusing on quickness and strength. This training back home in Sweden left him well-prepared for the season. Head Coach Mike Sullivan remarked, “I think his fitness level has allowed him to sustain the level of play that he's had,” highlighting the demanding schedule's challenges.

Mentally, Rakell focused on trusting his game. Despite setbacks, he remains a consistent 20-goal scorer, having surpassed the 30-goal mark twice. Sullivan commended him as “a smart player” with “a knack (for scoring goals)” and noted his ability to get shots off in tight spaces. Rakell committed to a comprehensive game, gaining the coaching staff's trust and playing alongside Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust. The team captain praised his strength with the puck.

Rakell emphasized maintaining his core strengths: “Don’t try to change too much of what I’m good at," and "work hard when I don’t have the puck, then trust my game when I have the puck.” This approach contributed to consistent confidence while avoiding extremes. “It’s nice when the puck is bouncing your way... and it’s also nice to feel like you get rewarded,” Rakell stated, adding the importance of staying hungry and taking each day as it comes.

At the trade deadline, Rakell faced uncertainty about his future, but Dubas chose to retain him. Dubas appreciated Rakell’s persistent performance and character, saying, “He’s got a long history of the type of player that he is, but we see him every day, the type of person he is as well.” Dubas valued players who consistently perform and rebound from adversity, affirming Rakell's place in the Penguins: “we’re happy to have him, he’s a big part of what we do and I know he really wants to be here.”