Rickard Rakell is staying with the Penguins.
The club has inked the forward to a five-year deal with an AAV of $5-million, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported Monday.
Correction: @MikeDeFabo has the proper term here, it is 6 years with Rakell in Pittsburgh, not 5 as reported. https://t.co/w9qWDwJ9Vf
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 12, 2022
Rakell, 29, joined the Pens in a trade deadline deal this year that saw the Anaheim Ducks get back a 2022 2nd round pick, Zach Aston-Reese, Calle Clang and Dominik Simon.
Down the stretch, Rakell fit in well scoring four goals and 13 points in 19 games, but played in just two of the Pens’ playoff games.
Rakell was listed as the 20th top free agent by Daily Faceoff. An offensive play driver who has scored 30 goals twice in his 10-year NHL career, Rakell was projected by Evolving Hockey to sign a seven-year deal with an AAV north of $6-million.
After seeing minutes in the top nine last year, it’s safe to pencil Rakell back in a similar role. He’ll also likely find himself on the powerplay again, where he averaged 1:35 per game with the Penguins last season.
Rakell was drafted by the Ducks 30th overall in the 2011 draft and has scored 158 goals and 352 points in his 569 game career.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.