The last time the Pittsburgh Penguins entered an offseason with franchise icon Evgeni Malkin as a pending unrestricted free agent, they had to re-sign several other members of the club that qualified for the playoffs in 2022.
One of those was forward Rickard Rakell, whom former general manager Ron Hextall acquired at that season’s trade deadline as a rental.
Rakell ultimately re-signed with the Penguins, agreeing to a six-year contract with a salary cap hit of $5 million.
At the time, the term and the salary were viewed as being below market value for a two-time All-Star who was only 29 at the time.
And considering Rakell has since established new career highs in several offensive categories, his deal is still probably a bargain for the Penguins.
At the time, Rakell was asked why he opted to remain with the Penguins at a perceived frugal rate.
“A big thing for me was having the chance to win,” Rakell said July 14, 2022. “I had a really good feeling about the Penguins the second when I got there last season. For me, it’s a package thing. Like, I want to be in a great organization with great teammates. It’s a great opportunity for me.”
The opportunity to win didn’t exactly follow in the three ensuing seasons as the Penguins failed to reach the postseason in each of those campaigns.
Despite that futility, Rakell maintains his belief the Penguins were capable of being Stanley Cup contenders.
And while a loss in six games in the opening round of these playoffs to the rival Philadelphia Flyers isn’t exactly a cause to celebrate, a return to the postseason offers some validation to Rakell.
And it represents significant progress in his estimation that the Penguins are working their way back to contender status.
“I really think so,” Rakell said during the team’s exit interview. “The way we felt that we were competing with any team this year, and we gave us a chance in every game. I really feel like we took some big steps.”
A lot of those steps were based on the progress Rakell has made in the past four seasons.
After a downtrodden 2023-24 campaign in which he dealt with a shoulder injury, Rakell set high-water marks in 2024-25 in goals (35) and points (70) while largely supplanting Jake Guentzel as the left winger on Sidney Crosby’s line.
This season, Rakell missed a significant amount of time (20 games) throughout October, November and December because of a left hand injury. But he grew his game in other ways than just his base statistics would reflect.
When Crosby and Malkin were sidelined by injuries, Rakell moved from the wing to center — a position he inhabited more than a decade ago as a member of the Anaheim Ducks — and provided some stability in the middle of the lineup as the Penguins made a push to the playoffs throughout March. In 17 games over March, he posted 19 points (10 goals, nine assists).
RICKY RAKS OPENS THE SCORING ????
— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) March 31, 2026
"This guy is just ON FIRE!" - @armdog pic.twitter.com/xdgV8lYLxU
What led to that growth?
“Believing in my game,” Rakell said April 19. “Repeating the things that I think that I’m good at over and over. And obviously, I’m playing with some really good players. And learning their patterns and different ways that I can put myself in position to make plays out there.”
One of those “really good players” is Malkin, once again a pending unrestricted free agent this summer. Count Rakell as optimistic that they’ll remain teammates beyond this offseason.
“I just can’t see him not coming back,” Rakell said. “I’ll put it that way. The other thing (Malkin signing elsewhere) hasn’t really come to my head yet. It probably won’t. So, he’s going to be back.”
Rakell remains resolute he made the right decision to remain with the Penguins in 2022.
“I’ve been here for four and a half years now,” Rakell said. “It definitely feels like our home. With the group that we have, I think we have a really good team up and down the lineup. It’s exciting to come in here for work every day.”
