Penguins Rumors: Rickard Rakell Becoming Trade Candidate

It has been a disastrous season for the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a big summer that saw them bring in Erik Karlsson, Reilly Smith, Ryan Graves, and more, they currently do not hold a playoff spot, and notable changes could be on the way. Star forward Jake Guentzel is the biggest name who has come up in the rumor mill a lot over the last several weeks.

However, it appears that another notable Penguins forward could find a new home before the trade deadline passes – Rickard Rakell. In a recent article for The Fourth Period, NHL insider David Pagnotta reported that he believes that Rakell is available on the trade market.

Rakell, 30, is a solid top-six forward when performing at his highest level, as evidenced by his 28 goals and 60 points just last season. This campaign, he has slowed down a bit, as he has eight goals and 25 points in 44 contests. That is not bad production, but it is fairly low for his standards.

With the Penguins having a very tough season, a shakeup may be needed. Rakell is still solid enough that the Penguins could get a decent return for him, and there should be interest in him. However, he also carries a $5 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season, so clubs would need to be okay with him being far more than just a rental.

Alas, we will need to wait and see if the Penguins end up moving Rakell before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline passes from here.