Three Crowns held their first training session in Montreal on Monday evening ahead of the start of the Four Nations.
One player was missing – Stanley Cup-winning top defender Gustav Forsling. Assistant General Manager Josef Boumedienne, however, provided reassuring news.
He's here, but needed to take it easy today. He'll train tomorrow. There's no injury, but all players have something at this point in the season, says Boumedienne.
The other players trained on ice, including Rakell, who came in as a replacement for injured William Karlsson.
Rakell, who had a tough time last year, has had a successful season in Pittsburgh and has scored 25 goals and 48 points in 56 matches.
I think it's gone well this season, I've found my game and getting to test it among the best is a really fun challenge, says Rakell.
His successes were also evident in the surroundings he got during the training session.
Rakell ended up in a potential first line with Mika Zibanejad and red-hot William Nylander, the second-best goal-scorer in the NHL with 33 goals.
Mika and William are two of the best players in their positions in the entire NHL, says Rakell.
When Sweden won its last VM gold in Copenhagen in 2018, Rakell was one of the gold heroes in a point-producing first line with Mika Zibanejad and Mattias Janmark.
One of the most fun tournaments I've played, the game we had, the joy of playing and of course that we went all the way and won. A bit the same feeling as I have now, says Rakell.
Three Crowns play their premiere match against Canada on Thursday night, Swedish time.
Defence pairs: Victor Hedman, Jonas Brodin – Mattias Ekholm, Erik Karlsson – Rasmus Andersson, Rasmus Dahlin.
Lines: Rickard Rakell, Mika Zibanejad, William Nylander – Filip Forsberg, Elias Pettersson, Adrian Kempe – Lucas Raymond, Joel Eriksson Ek, Jesper Bratt, Gustav Nyquist, Elias Lindholm/Leo Carlsson, Viktor Arvidsson.
Goalkeepers: Linus Ullmark, Filip Gustavsson, Samuel Ersson.
