PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins are only played 39 games, but it’s already been a tale of two seasons for Rickard Rakell. After missing a month with an injury, one of the Penguins most consistent forwards has found his game after starting the season without a single goal.
Entering the 2023-24 season, Rakell lined up on the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Reilly Smith. An immediate chemistry was formed between those two, but Rakell was left with next to no production. In the first nine games, Rakell only had one assist while Malkin notched 11 points and Smith with seven.
Despite the lack of production, head coach Mike Sullivan kept Rakell on the second line where he recorded three more assists over the next eight games.
After 17 games, Rakell was yet to score a goal and had only four assists when he was taken out of the lineup with an injury. An upper-body injury sidelined Rakell for a month before he finally returned to the lineup.
Upon his return, Rakell and the coaching staff viewed it as the start of a new season for Rakell.
“Obviously, it’s been a tough season so far,” Rakell said prior to making his return in mid-December. “I think that’s in the past now. I’m excited to be back. Forget everything that’s been and a new season starts.”
Since saying he was looking forward to a new season, Rakell has played in 10 games and scored 10 points split between his first five goals of the season and five assists.
Sullivan put Rakell on the first line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, not only because there was a hope it would wake up Rakell’s scoring touch, but also thanks to an injury to Bryan Rust at the time. Rakell has taken his opportunity and run with it, forcing Rust to play with Malkin upon his return.
This lineup change has proven to be beneficial not only for Rakell, but for the Penguins, as well. Among Rakell’s five goals includes a game-winner and power play goals in back-to-back games.
“I think Raks has done a great job in utilizing, when he got injured, almost as an opportunity to hit the reset button,” Sullivan said. “He’s been terrific ever since he came back.”
Sullivan believes that Rakell was playing well in the first part of the season despite not finding the back of the net. And Rakell was playing well, but being unable to finish was hurting his game. Ever since beginning the ‘new season’ Rakell has been a huge piece to the Penguins recent run of success.
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