Penguins Trade Talk: ‘Many Teams’ Interested in Rakell; NTC a Factor?

It will come as no shock, the Pittsburgh Penguins fielded significant interest in Rickard Rakell leading up to the March 7 NHL trade deadline.

As the Penguins and general manager Kyle Dubas navigate the gray areas of a rebuild on the fly approach, the coming 2025 offseason could be an action-packed transitional period with notable roster turnover. Or Dubas could continue his methodical approach.

Perhaps more so than anyone else currently under contract, Rakell’s Penguins future is dubious, not because he played poorly, but because of the exact opposite. While other veteran names appeared in trade rumors throughout the season because of unhappiness over their production or play, Rakell posted a career year.

After a trying 2023-24 season, the Swedish winger popped. Rakell scored a career-high 35 goals, notched a career-best 70 points, capably slotted as the second-line center on a few occasions, and otherwise helped captain Sidney Crosby to another outstanding year, all while making only $5 million.

In the rising cap world, that’s a paltry salary for a 35-goal scorer who is only 31 years old. It is like convenience stores returning the price of candy bars to 50 cents.

Following the Penguins’ season, multiple sources confirmed to Pittsburgh Hockey Now that Dubas received substantial interest in the winger leading up to the trade deadline. One source went out of their way to term it as “many teams.”

The Penguins also reviewed Rakell’s eight-team no-trade list before standing pat. Multiple sources also confirmed the team did not approach Rakell about waiving his limited NTC.

However, this summer could be different.

The Vancouver fan base was whipped into a frothy frenzy this week when pictures surfaced of pending free agent forward Brock Boeser carrying a Canucks jersey signed by teammates, as a likely going away present.

So, too, was there a bit of signed memorabilia in Rakell’s locker stall on clean-out day. It wasn’t a jersey or anything permanent; rather, several teammates signed some protective equipment with a few chirps, but it was there nonetheless.

Of course, that means absolutely nothing in the larger picture, but it is another reminder that players and teammates are well aware of the possibility that Rakell will not be a Penguin come next fall. The organization quickly discovered that rookies Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen could handle top-six roles. Koivunen posted seven assists in eight games and handled the left wing on Sidney Crosby’s line with aplomb.

McGroarty acquitted himself well, too, which means if the team decides to trade Rakell for the bounty they would receive on the market, there are immediate and low-cost replacements waiting in the wings.

Or, on the wings.

For his part, Rakell rebounded extraordinarily well from a down 2023-24 season. This season, his offensive totals were career bests, and his play was top-level, as well. Rakell was anything but a passenger as Crosby notched his third consecutive 90-point season.

“(It was) just a better start to this year, and after that, I just tried to play my game, didn’t have too many thoughts going through my head, and just tried to play hockey,” Rakell said Friday on breakup day. “For some reason, it worked out.”

If the Penguins would like to be competitive next season, a top-six forwards crew with Crosby, Rakell, Bryan Rust, Evgeni Malkin, McGroarty, and Koivunen would make the team viable, though probably not a Stanley Cup contender.

However, Rust is also a potential blue chip on the trade market. Dubas could quickly replenish the pipeline with a couple of good young players and/or high draft picks by trading one or both Rust and Rakell. The returns could be substantial.

For comparison, the Jake Guentzel trade haul in March 2024 earned a pair of mid-tier prospects (Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev) and depth prospect Cruz Lucius, plus winger Michael Bunting, and an early second-round pick. Rakell has three more years remaining on his contract, and in the changing landscape, the price for a 30-goal scorer should be multiple assets; some combination of ready prospects, an NHL player, and a first-round pick.

There are numerous factors at play, including the market. Also, Rakell could resubmit his no-trade list to make it more difficult to trade him. PHN believes Rakell hasn’t updated the list since the beginning of his contract, signed two years ago.

The enormous decisions facing the organization center around the veterans who are playing well. Dubas could choose to accelerate the rebuild or build around players like Rakell.

The Penguins’ offseason arrived far too early for their taste, but it’s here now, and like Rust, Rakell communicated his desire to stay, both in public and in private.

“At the trade deadline, I said I wanted to stay,” said Rakell. “I want to be part of this team and yeah, I wanna be part of it–like being back in playoffs and trying to win something here. I mean, I love my teammates here and I really wanna stay.”