Penguins' Rickard Rakell relishes 'huge honor' of playing in 4 Nations Face-Off

Rickard Rakell had but three words to describe recently getting the news that he’d be joining Sweden for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.

“Hornqvist called me,” Rakell said, referring to former Penguin Patric Hornqvist, who’s serving as Sweden’s assistant general manager.

And what was that call like?

“It was a lot happier than the first one.”

Rakell, referencing the call he received in December that informed him he did not crack Sweden’s 23-man roster, said he felt disappointed over the initial exclusion.

However, on Monday news surfaced that the Sundbyberg, Sweden, native would get a chance to represent his country after all. Because of an injury to Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson, Rakell was added to the team as a replacement.

At the 4 Nations Face-Off, held in Boston and Montreal between Feb. 12-20 and featuring the United States, Finland and Canada, Rakell joins teammate Erik Karlsson, who was named an alternate captain for the Swedes.

“Obviously, it was always my goal to make it,” Rakell said. “It was tough to get that phone call to hear that I didn’t make it, but that’s life. You just got to keep fighting, and here we are. Now I finally get the chance. I’m going to try to do the best I can.”

Rakell, 31, last put on a Swedish sweater for the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships, playing for a team that finished ninth.

For the 2018 World Championships, he won a gold medal with Sweden. Competing in the World Junior Championships from 2011-13, he captured a gold and silver medal.

Rakell’s failure to initially crack Sweden’s roster in early December, despite the year he’d been having, raised eyebrows in some hockey circles, particularly in Pittsburgh.

Since then, Rakell has continued to perform at a high level. He leads the Penguins in goals with 24 and is second behind only Sidney Crosby with 46 points.

In the Penguins’ 3-2 shootout loss to New Jersey on Tuesday, Rakell’s first game since being added to Sweden’s roster, he had himself a night, contributing a goal in regulation as well as one in the shootout.

You made the right choice, Sweden ????

That's 24 goals this season for Rickard Rakell! pic.twitter.com/yRTxVDUBSX

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 5, 2025

Primarily serving as the Penguins’ top-line left wing alongside Crosby, among Swedish-born players in the NHL, Rakell’s point total ranks fourth.

“It’s a huge honor for me to play for Sweden,” Rakell said. “Ever since I didn’t make the team, you never know what’s going to happen. My whole focus has been here for the Penguins and just trying to do whatever I can here. But obviously, really looking forward to it and just playing with the best players in the world.”

Rakell might have had two regulation goals Tuesday, but his initial score in the first period was waved off when officials ruled he kicked the puck past netminder Nico Daws.

But about five minutes into the second period, Rakell cleaned up a Crosby backhand try, depositing a wraparound past Daws for the Penguins’ first goal of the night.

As the Penguins prepare to hit the road for back-to-back games Friday and Saturday against the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, Rakell has three goals and seven assists over his last 10 contests.

For coach Mike Sullivan, Rakell is making a difference with and without the puck.

“I think (Rakell) has just quietly had a real strong season — a consistent game since training camp,” Sullivan said. “He’s playing the game the right way. He’s playing on both sides of the puck, he has a hardness to his game, he’s stiff on pucks, he’s physical, he’s willing to block shots (and) he’s playing defense.

“The offensive side, everybody sees. But he’s committed to a lot of the subtleties that, in our mind, adds up to winning.”

Rakell is doubtless relishing his upcoming opportunity to represent Sweden.

That said, appearing in the 4 Nations Face-Off did come with one caveat, as Rakell’s calendar for the nearly two-week break from NHL action had been filled for a family trip.

“We had plans, but Disney World is always going to be there,” Rakell said.