Latest news with #Rakell
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penguins Selected For 2025 Global Series In Sweden
It looks like the Pittsburgh Penguins will be boarding a plane to Europe next season. On Tuesday, the NHL announced that the Penguins and Nashville Predators will play games on Nov. 14 and 16 in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of the league's Global Series during the 2025-26 season. Sweden, we're coming back! 🇸🇪The @penguins and @predsnhl will face each other in Stockholm at #NHLGlobalSeries on November 14th and och Nashville möts i Stockholm under #NHLGlobalSeries den 14:e och 16:e november! 🙌 — NHL Sverige (@NHLsv) March 18, 2025 And for Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson - both of whom hail from Sweden - it's the opportunity of a lifetime. "I came from a small town, so I never got the chance to see any professional hockey until I was probably 16 or 17," Karlsson said. "I think it's a great thing that the NHL does right now." Back to their roots 🇸🇪 — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 18, 2025 The Global Series during the 2024-25 season featured games in Prague, Czechia and Tampere, Finland between the Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres. And the Penguins will return to Stockholm for the first time since 2008, when they kicked off their season there against the Ottawa Senators as part of the NHL Premiere Series. "It's very exciting," said Rakell, who grew up just 10 miles outside of Stockholm in Sollentuna. "Just the chance to play in my home country and play in front of familly and friends and people growing up, different coaches that doesn't really have the chance to come and see me play over here. And my grandma, just for her to have the chance to see me play... it'll be a lot of fun." WE'RE GOING INTERNATIONAL! 🇸🇪The Penguins return to Sweden for two regular season games against the Predators on November 14th and 16th for the #NHLGlobalSeries! — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 18, 2025 He also emphasized the prominent hockey interest and Sweden and how much it means to the kids aspiring to become NHL players. "The Swedish Hockey League... it's a good league," Rakell said. "But everybody dreams of the NHL. The hockey interest is huge. "I mean, for kids to have a chance to get close and watch NHL players and guys like Sid, Tanger, and Geno... it's a really big deal." Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
New York Times
18-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Penguins, Sidney Crosby return to Stockholm for 2025 NHL Global Series: ‘It's hardcore'
As a boy, Rickard Rakell made the 20-minute trip from his home municipality of Sundbyberg to Sweden's capital, Stockholm, for a Swedish Elite League game in a domed arena affectionately called Globen. He and other local youth players joined the professionals along the blue line for a performance of the country's unofficial national anthem, 'Du gamla, du fria.' Advertisement This remains one of Rakell's treasured hockey moments. Another one is on the horizon. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators will play two regular-season games in Stockholm in November as part of the NHL's Global Series. A renovated Globen, now known as Avicii Arena, will stage the games on Nov. 14 and 16, and the Penguins will play outside of North America for the first time since two games against the Ottawa Senators in October 2008. 'Sweden's a small country, but the hockey is huge,' Rakell said. 'Just for kids to have a chance to get close and watch NHL players — guys like Sid and Geno — it's a really big deal.' Rakell and fellow Swede Erik Karlsson are eager to show off their country's finest food, arts and culture while also entertaining family and friends. They'll surely be celebrated as returning heroes. They're realists, though. They're aware of the opportunity for Swedes to witness Sidney Crosby for the first time in almost two decades. As Rakell said, 'it's hardcore.' The NHL is no stranger to bringing regular-season games to Stockholm as part of its regular Global Series of international games. In past visits, the league has sought teams with Swedish stars. It will have that with Rakell and Karlsson, presuming those players aren't traded this offseason, and the Predators' Roman Josi. However, after consulting with Swedish officials, the NHL recognized a desire for European fans to 'see the superstars,' said David Proper, the league's senior executive vice president of media and international strategy. 'Pittsburgh gives us the benefit of both,' Proper said. 'But we've heard they want to see Sidney Crosby live. And if he and the team are interested, that makes a big difference.' Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Penguins, informed the NHL early in its tenure that it hoped for inclusion in the Global Series. FSG is a global sports conglomerate, and promoting one of its newer properties overseas is part of a broader business and marketing strategy. 'The Global Series is a great opportunity for the Penguins and Predators to continue to grow the game in a market that is not traditionally exposed to NHL hockey in person,' said Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas in a text from the GM meetings. 'The Penguins organization and players are excited to showcase our talents on the international stage, and we especially look forward to our own Swedish-born players — Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell — getting the opportunity to play in their native country in front of friends and family.' Advertisement Crosby, a stickler for routine, needed no arm twisting. He is surprised it took as long as it has for the Penguins, one of the NHL's highest-profile American teams, to be part of another Global Series. Proper confirmed the Penguins' participation in five outdoor games — two Winter Classics and three Stadium Series — since their last trip to Stockholm contributed to the gap between Global Series appearances. Speaking after practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on Monday, Crosby laughed while trying to recall off-ice activities he'd done with Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, the only teammates remaining from the Penguins' previous trip to Stockholm. There was a scavenger hunt around the city. They toured the Vasa Museum in Djurgården, home to a nearly fully intact 17th-century ship. And a lot of walks around the older sections of Stockholm. 'We just had a lot of time to be able to do that stuff,' Crosby said. 'I was younger and hadn't seen that much of Europe. It was really neat.' Some personnel on the Penguins' previous European trip took a while to warm to Stockholm. The traditional Thursday meal of pea soup and pancakes did not agree with Marc-André Fleury. Mario Lemieux's famously shoddy back stiffened from the smaller beds lower to the floor. A flight attendant tried to sneak autographs from players on a trip to Helsinki, Finland, for a preseason game against Jokerit. Also, everybody was tired all the time. 'There was a lot of that, too,' Crosby said, again laughing, quickly stressing the experience was 'really nice.' He may not be as eager for Rakell's promised Foods of Sweden tour, but Crosby can appreciate what it will mean for Rakell and Karlsson to reveal their homeland to teammates and team personnel. Crosby had a similar experience when the Penguins played a preseason game in Halifax, Nova Scotia a couple of years ago. Advertisement 'You're playing in the NHL, you're proud to have your team there and proud to represent where you're from, and have friends and family see games,' Crosby said. 'It's one of those experiences that you try to embrace. It's busy, but it's a good busy.' Rakell won't mind fielding ticket requests from family and friends. He is eager for his grandmother, who recently turned 90, to see him play with the Penguins for the first time. 'She's actually too old to travel, so I'm coming to her,' he said. Karlsson joked that the experience could leave him exhausted given the anticipated obligations. He has played in the Global Series in Stockholm with the Senators and in Prague with the San Jose Sharks. He hopes to 'show the guys what actual meatballs and potatoes are.' 'I know we get it over here sometimes, but it's a little different,' he said. 'It's cultural things, stuff like that. Most of the guys have probably been to Europe at some point — probably not to Sweden, that's not at the top of your list. That's why it's fun to bring everybody over. It's an excuse to show everyone a little bit of what we love about our country.' Some questions readers might have about the Penguins' playing in the Global Series: The Penguins will be the home team for one game in Stockholm. They will play only 40 regular-season games at PPG Paints Arena next season. The NHL and Live Nation will offer ticket presales on March 25. Tickets are available to the public beginning March 26. Pittsburgh International Airport does not offer non-stop service but does provide direct flights to London (British Airways) and Reykjavík, Iceland (Icelandair). Those carriers have non-stop flights to Stockholm. In Pittsburgh, the two games will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh. In America, the games will air on the NHL Network outside of the participating markets. (Top photo of Rickard Rakell and Sidney Crosby: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)
CBS News
18-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Penguins to play 2 games in Sweden next season as part of NHL Global Series
The PIttsburgh Penguins will play two regular-season games against the Nashville Predators at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on Nov. 14 and 16, 2025, as part of the 2025 NHL Global Series. The Penguins previously played in Stockholm in 2008 during the NHL Premiere Series. In those two games against the Ottawa Senators, the Penguins earned a 4-3 overtime win and a 3-1 loss. "To play in the two games was great. We had a great turnout," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "The fans were super excited for us to be there. As players, to experience something like that at a young age, too – it was a lot of fun. Since then, I know that there's been a ton of games overseas and it's something that always goes over well, so it should be a great experience." Pittsburgh currently has three Sweden-born players on its roster: defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Rickard Rakell and Emil Bemstrom. Karlsson and Rakell represented Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off last month. "I think it becomes a big thing for us," said Rakell, a native of Sundbyberg, Sweden. "I think [it's special] just to have a chance to play in your home country or play in front of, like, your youth team or old coaches that you had growing up. For you to have a chance to have family or friends come and see you and your teammates play, I think it's a pretty special thing." The NHL and Live Nation will offer ticket presales at 10 a.m. Central European Time (5 a.m. Eastern Time) on March 25 and go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Central European Time (5 a.m. Eastern Time) on March 26. Since 1997, the NHL has staged 46 regular-season games at venues outside North America. The 2025 NHL Global Series will be the 47th and 48th regular-season games played overseas, per a news release from the NHL.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Crosby, Rakell Continue Dominance As Top Duo
After the 2024 NHL trade deadline, Pittsburgh Penguins POHO and GM Kyle Dubas traded captain Sidney Crosby's best winger in Jake Guentzel. It seemed to be the first domino to fall in an effort to sell off the team's marketable, talented assets to begin pushing toward the future. Luckily for Crosby - and the Penguins - there wasn't a repeat of the same thing at the 2025 trade deadline. Crosby's "new" best winger this season is Rickard Rakell, who is in the midst of a career year having played with the captain for most of it. Rakell has 31 goals and 59 points in 68 games on the season, and that's second on the team only to his linemate and one of hockey's best and most consistent players. And having the consistency together as linemates this season - the two spent only a few weeks on separate lines at the very beginning of the season - has helped both of them find even more chemistry than they've had in previous campaigns, when they played together on an irrregular basis. "I think any time you're together with linemates for an extended period of time, usually, it's a good thing," Crosby said. "That's always a good sign. Just trying to read off of one another, you know, you're talking about certain plays, and then, obviously, the power play, we're together there... so, that can carry over to five-on-five sometimes, too. "It definitely helps, and you want to get better as the season goes on. You play different teams, and you want to find a way to be productive.' Rickard Rakell buries the dish from Sidney Crosby, giving Crosby his 50th assist of the season!#LetsGoPens — Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 15, 2025 And Rakell, too, knows that when his name is on the lineup card next to Crosby and Bryan Rust, he can expect to get some good scoring chances throughout the course of a game. 'I think it helps to be playing with each other for a long time," Rakell said. "And, for me, just playing with Sid and Rusty... I know I'm going to get a few good looks every game, so I just try to stay ready for it.' And he has, in fact, been ready for it. The duo has combined for 54 goals and 132 points on the season - including 12 goals and 26 points in the 12 games since the 4 Nations Face-off break - and they don't appear to be slowing down. They've also contributed an expected goals for share of 54.63 percent together, which is the best expected goals share for any regular forward duo on the Penguins' roster. This Dynamic Duo has combined for 130 points so far this season... 🐧How many points will they collectively finish with? 💬NHL x @massmutual — NHL (@NHL) March 14, 2025 When the duo plays away from each other? Rakell has an expected goals share of just 44.61 percent, while Crosby has a mark of 46.37 percent. A few times in the past, head coach Mike Sullivan has referenced Rakell's ability to "make something out of nothing." One of the things - aside from his lethal shot - that makes Rakell a dangerous player is his ability to expose the soft areas of the ice. Crosby agrees. 'I think just being aware and finding that open ice," Crosby said. "He's got a great shot, really good hands... so he's able to maneuver the puck pretty well in small space and doesn't need a lot of time to get a shot off. He's proven that a lot this year.' As for what makes Crosby so dangerous? Well, it's more than documented at this point how high-IQ and lethal a playmaker Crosby is. But, for Rakell, Crosby's consistency and ability to sustain such a high level of play in a general sense is remarkable. The Penguins' captain is just seven points shy of setting the NHL's all-time point-per-game seasons record at 20, which would break Wayne Gretzky's previous mark of 19. 'I mean, it's so impressive to be doing it for, what is it, 20 times?" Rakell said. "He's one of the best to ever play this game. He shows why. It's such a hard game, and for him to do it every year, it's pretty nuts.' Crosby and Rakell's chemistry this season is pretty nuts, too. And thanks to Dubas's decision to keep the duo intact - at least for the rest of the season, and, perhaps, beyond - it will only have the potential to reach even higher heights. Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
3 Takeaways From Penguins Convincing Win Over Blues
The Pittsburgh Penguins (27-31-10) are not going away quietly, racking up another victory on Thursday night to extend their winning streak to three games, thanks to a 5-3 triumph over the St. Louis Blues at PPG Paints Arena. Thanks to goals from five different players, including Rickard Rakell's 30th of the year, the Penguins defeated a Blue team trying to claw their way into a wildcard spot in the Western Conference, backed by Tristan Jarry's 33 saves. In a worst-case scenario, Jarry would continue his revenge tour, go undefeated the rest of the season, and knock the Penguins out of the top five at the upcoming NHL Draft. Meanwhile, the club still misses the postseason by a couple of points, but Jarry redeems himself and many players in the lineup play meaningful hockey and achieve personal milestones. Tristan Jarry said each and every #Pens player reached out to him after he was sent down — 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) March 14, 2025 Since starting against the Minnesota Wild, Jarry has made at least 30 saves in three starts while helping the Penguins win three consecutive games. No one knew if we'd see him again after a reassignment to the AHL in January. However, he's back and has been on a roll, helping his team earn points during the stretch run. No matter his future, Jarry will do everything he can to refurbish his reputation in the final weeks. While the hockey world patiently waits for Alex Ovechkin to break the goal scoring record, there's a magic number in Pittsburgh: four. That's how many goals Rakell is away from his career high of 34, set in 2017-18. Rickard Rakell is a three-time 30-goal scorer 🔥Rakell becomes the fifth @penguins player not named Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin to score 30 goals since 2006-07. — Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) March 14, 2025 Considering how important he's been to the Penguins' attack all season, Kyle Dubas opted not to trade him, the entire team will rally around him in the final 13 games and try to get him five more goals. It would be a special moment for him because he could become only the 22nd Swedish-born skater with a 35-goal season. When a team is at the bottom of the standings, there's not much to play for in the season's final weeks. However, these Penguins are doing more than playing spoiler; they are raking up points and reaching personal milestones. Whether it's captain Sidney Crosby's quest to catch Wayne Gretzky's point-per-game record, Rakell getting within a couple of goals of a new career high, or Jarry making 30 saves look routine, these guys are not rolling over with just a handful of games left. For those fans who dreaded the slumps and losing streaks, the Penguins are doing their best to reward the faithful who stuck with them through thick and thin by ending the campaign on a high note, giving them some momentum heading into the summer. As mentioned before, when clicking, Pittsburgh can skate with any team in the league and pick up a win or two. They may not always be pretty, and there will always be some drama like a blown lead, but these Penguins are still competitive with the right personnel.
