Penguins Need Forward To Find Groove
Rickard Rakell has been slow to start the 2023-24 season and the Pittsburgh Penguins will need him to wake up soon.
To say Rickard Rakell has been a useful player for the Pittsburgh Penguins since arriving during the 2021-22 season would be an understatement.
In 101 games with the Penguins heading into this season, Rakell had recorded 32 goals and 41 assists for a total of 74 points.
Rakell has been a useful asset anywhere he slots in the lineup, especially on the top two lines.
The start of this season, however, hasn’t been kind to Rakell, despite his linemates finding an awesome chemistry.
While Evgeni Malkin and newcomer Reilly Smith produce so much off of each other, Rakell just hasn’t fed off of their success, yet.
In seven games, so far, Rakell only has one point on his stat line; a primary assist on Malkin’s opening goal against the Washington Capitals.
Ever since then, it’s been nothing from Rakell; that certainly isn’t without effort, though as he is continuously getting open opportunities and one of the top shooters on the team.
“I think Raks has played well,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “I don’t think he’s gotten rewarded on the score sheet as much as his overall game suggests.”
Analytically, Rakell and his linemates have been the Penguins most fruitful line coming up with a 57.6% expected goals, according to moneypuck.com.
That number is tops on the Penguins, but the overall production has only been supplemented by two of the three skaters.
The Penguins know they can win, even if Rakell is slumping, but this team could still use all of the offensive punch it needs.
Rakell will likely come around and start feeding off of his linemates, and once that rolls on a regular basis, the Penguins should be in a really good spot.
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