Penguins

Penguins Lines Change; Rakell Drops to No. 3 Line

Published

2 weeks ago

November 18, 2023

NHL trade chatter, Pittsburgh Penguins, Rickard Rakell

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Pittsburgh Penguins are dressing the same 20 players for their game at Carolina tonight as they did for a 5-2 loss to New Jersey Thursday, but they still made a significant change.

Per the lineup released by the team, coach Mike Sullivan has dropped right winger Rickard Rakell from the second line to the third, while bumping Radim Zohorna up to the No. 2 unit, where he will work alongside Evgeni Malkin and Reilly Smith.

Rakell, who does not have a goal in 15 games this season, will be on the right side with Lars Eller and Drew O’Connor.

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Jon Stowitzky

10 days ago

Last ditch effort would be to put 67 with 87 and 59 for a game or 2. I know Rust has been huge, but this can’t continue, Rakell needs to produce or be moved. Malkins line has sucked the past 2 games as well. Z isn’t a top 6 forward. A guy doesn’t go from being a consistent 20+ a season goal scorer to a guy that looks like a beer league slug. There’s a major disconnect somewhere.