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It has been over four years since Ron Hextall, the former general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, brought Rickard Rakell into the fold at the 2022 NHL trade deadline. Since that acquisition, Rakell has solidified his role as a mainstay in the team's top six forward group.
Despite being the subject of trade speculation in multiple offseasons, including the most recent one, Rakell remains with the Penguins and has two years remaining on his current contract. His performance in 2024-25 was a career-best, as he tallied 35 goals and 70 points across 81 contests, setting personal highs in both categories.
In the 2025-26 season, Rakell registered 24 goals and 48 points in 60 games, numbers that would have been closer to his previous season's output had he not missed roughly six weeks due to a fractured left hand. Throughout the campaign, he frequently lined up on Sidney Crosby's wing but also took on center duties—a relatively new responsibility for him. This transition required Rakell to become more adept at faceoffs, enhance his all-around game, and contribute on the penalty kill, where he logged 34:57 of ice time, his most since the 2019-20 season with Anaheim.
Key Analysis
Looking ahead to 2026-27, Rakell is expected to begin the season alongside Crosby and Bryan Rust, a line he is familiar with and reads well off of. While he can still fill in at center if injuries arise, his natural position is on the wing. On the top power play unit, Rakell's presence in the slot and his powerful shot make him a valuable asset, and he is projected to remain there despite potential deployment changes.
At 33 years old, Rakell is anticipated to deliver another productive season, with projections of 20-30 goals and 50-60 points, a level he has consistently reached in three of the last four years. His 2023-24 season, where he shot a low 9.1% and managed only 15 goals and 37 points, appears to be an outlier. As the Penguins aim for a second consecutive playoff berth, Rakell's scoring and versatility will be crucial to their success.
Originally reported by yahoo.