Ducks Sign 2011 First Round Pick Rakell to Three-Year Contract

Press Release

The Ducks have signed right wing Rickard Rakell to a three-year entry-level contract. Per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Rakell, 19 (5/5/93), won a gold medal with his native Sweden at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring 2-3=5 points in six tournament contests. In 60 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) appearances with the Plymouth Whalers last season, Rakell earned 28-34=62 points with 12 penalty minutes (PIM) and a +9 rating. Among team leaders, the 6-2, 194-pound winger ranked fourth in points. He also added 2-10=12 points in 13 OHL postseason contests, leading the club in assists while ranking third in points.

"Anaheim is great," Rakell said during Conditioning Camp at The Rinks - Anaheim ICE. "Seeing the organization take care of everyone around here. I feel so happy to be here and looking forward to hopefully a lot of years here."

In 2010-11, Rakell collected 19-24=43 points with a +14 rating and 12 PIM in 49 games with Plymouth. Leading the team with 10 power play goals, Rakell also ranked third in points-per-game (.92) and tied for fifth in goals and plus/minus. He completed the 2010-11 season ranked 11th among OHL rookies in scoring. He netted his first career OHL hat trick to lead Plymouth to an 8-2 victory on Jan. 15 vs. Sarnia.

Selected 30th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Rakell was the youngest player to compete for Team Sweden at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, NY. The Sundbyberg, Sweden native posted 0-3=3 points with two PIM in the tournament.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)