2014-2015 Anaheim Ducks Final Grades: Rickard Rakell

We keep handing out grades to the Ducks, turning our attention to a rookie with a bright future ahead of him.

Heading into the 2014-2015 NHL season the Ducks line-up at center had changed dramatically. Ryan Getzlaf was still on the top line but short of that nothing was the same. Out went Nick Bonino, and Mathieu Perreault and Saku Koivu decided to call it a career. Ryan Kesler and Nate Thompson were traded for to center the 2^nd and 4^th lines respectively but lots of discussion occurred to find the 3^rd line center. As training camp began it became clear that the position would be either for Rickard Rakell or William Karlsson. Fast forward to now the end of the 14-15’ season and with Karlsson now a Columbus Blue Jacket the job belongs to Rakell. Coaches, opposing teams, and fans alike saw what Rakell can do, now he just needs to do it on a consistent basis. He is signed through next season so he’ll get a chance to prove his worth even more and if he can improve upon his good rookie year the Ducks may have found themselves yet another gem.

Highlights:

Rakell appeared in 71 regular season games and finished with a line of 9-22-31. He did this all while centering the Ducks 3^rd or 4^th line each night and showed flashes of brilliance through the season. One of those nights was none other than the retirement night of Duck legend Teemu Selanne. On a night honoring the greatest player to ever wear a Ducks sweater Rakell played like a legend. With the Ducks trailing 1-0 Rakell potted his first goal of the season on the power-play. He then would assist on the next two Ducks goals that found the score 4-3 Jets with about two and half minutes left in regulation. It was there that after some good fore-check work by Patrick Maroon and Jakob Silfverberg, Rakell got a pass in the slot that he kicked from skate to stick and he potted into the net to tie the game. But Rakell wasn’t done there. With the Ducks trailing 2-1 in the shoot-out Rakell made a beautiful backhand move for the goal allowing Sami Vatanen to win the game one round later. Rakell finished the night with four points and a shoot-out goal proving what he is capable of at this level.

Rakell also appeared in all 16 of the Ducks playoff games and while he only managed one goal it was a big one. In the opening round versus the same Winnipeg Jets team that served as Rakell’s coming out party on Teemu night, he struck again. Overtime in Game 3 with the “Winnipeg White-out” going in full force the puck was dumped into the Jets zone. Rakell and Andrew Cogliano won a puck battle behind the net and filtered the puck to the point. There Francois Beauchemin let a shot go that Rakell tipped home for the win and a 3-0 Ducks series lead (relive the moment below!). Coming through in the clutch in a hostile environment for a 22 year old rookie should be a great sign of things to come for Rakell.

Room for Improvement:

Though showing flashes of brilliance, Rickard Rakell is certainly capable of more. It may be tough to criticize a rookie who put up 31 points but that is the NHL we live in. You need to come in and make an impact consistently otherwise you end up in a limbo situation i.e.: Emerson Etem. Of those 31 points they tended to come in bunches as in the four he had in the game against Winnipeg. Rakell is learning the game and will no doubt be even better next season. Also putting up 31 points in the regular season was no fluke so the fact he managed only a goal in the post-season was a little bit of a letdown.  He got his chances but the Ducks need more than a goal in 16 games. Striving for consistency is a staple in the NHL and Rakell has the tools and talent to do it, and be a great NHL player.

He needs to work on being stronger on his skates and not getting knocked off the puck. In the Western Conference and Pacific Division you’re going to be going up against heavy, physical teams, and especially as a center he needs to limit the time he gets hit around. That will come with working on his strength and conditioning and growing up. Rakell is only 22 years old and won’t celebrate his 23^rd birthday until deep into the playoffs next season. This was his first real taste of playing a full regular season and playoffs in the NHL and the lessons he learned will no doubt pay dividends even starting next season.