Penguins Rumors: Rickard Rakell getting traded during 4 Nations Face-Off?

The Pittsburgh Penguins are open for business, but that doesn't mean that president Kyle Dubas is going to just give players away. Insert, Rickard Rakell. The 31-year-old is having a strong season on a line with Sidney Crosby, and while Dubas is open to making a move, trading Rakell would mean another GM came up to his sky-high asking price.

According to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, it would likely take a first-round pick and top prospect, who is NHL ready to get Dubas to budge on Rakell.

The Penguins aren’t eager to trade Rakell. At 31, he’s in his prime and has quickly proven that last season’s struggles were an aberration. His cap hit is reasonable, if not a steal. He has real chemistry with Crosby...But it’s not certain. If a team offers a truly significant package for Rakell — a first-round pick and a blue-chip prospect who is just about NHL-ready, for instance — the Penguins will listen. The Penguins have all of the aforementioned reasons to keep Rakell, but make no mistake, Dubas’ primary interest is in making the team good again as quickly as possible. In Rakell, the Penguins have a player who can net multiple assets in return.

Rakell is under contract through the 2027-28 season at $5 million AAV. The salary cap could hit as high as $115 million in three years, making Rakell's $5 million cap hit look awfully affordable. He does own an eight-team no-trade clause and has some say in trade talks.

The Penguins enter the two-week 4 Nations Face-Off break with a record 23-25-9, and are six points out of a wild-card position in the Eastern Conference. After moving Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor, it's obvious Dubas isn't shy about pulling the trigger on deals this season in Pittsburgh.

25 goals and 47 points in 55 games for Rickard Rakell this season. 👀

Showing off why he was added to Sweden's #4Nations Face-Off roster. 🇸🇪

📺: @NHLNetwork pic.twitter.com/VSYL0ZjmuW
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