The Edmonton Oilers may be back in the trade mix with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and this time the name drawing attention is Rickard Rakell.
Rakell has started popping up on offseason trade boards, and David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period recently placed him at No. 24 on his list while linking him to just one team: Edmonton.
Pagnotta wrote:
“Given the market landscape, the Penguins are willing to listen on calls for Rakell and if a team is willing to pay a solid price to bolster their offence, Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas is taking the call. Rakell has two years left on his deal and owns an eight-team no-trade list.
Teams Reportedly Linked: Edmonton,”
Rakell is 33 and has two years left on the six-year, $30 million extension he signed with Pittsburgh in 2022. Last season, he posted 48 points in 60 games, scoring 24 goals and adding 24 assists.
For Edmonton, the appeal is obvious. Rakell profiles as a top-six winger and has already shown he can click with elite talent, building strong chemistry with Sidney Crosby during his time with the Penguins.
The price tag should be manageable because of his age, but Dubas has asked for a significant return in the past on Rakell and Bryan Rust. If he wants a deal done, he may have to soften that stance.
The Oilers still need to sort out the Darnell Nurse situation first. Once that’s handled, turning to the forward group and exploring a deal with Pittsburgh could make a lot of sense.
In Other News...
Penguins Finalized Development Camp Roster Comes With A Few Concerns
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There is, however, a small wrinkle attached to the list. Three forwards, Will Horcoff, Mac Swanson and Melvin Fernstrom, are marked injured but will still be around camp, which keeps them in the mix even if they are limited on the ice. The only draft-class prospect not expected to attend adds another layer of curiosity to a camp that already feels worth watching, especially with so many young players looking to make an impression in front of Penguins evaluators. [Read more 🡒]
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The broader appeal for the Penguins is what those contracts avoid. Around the NHL, comparable role players have been getting longer terms and higher price tags, which can clog up flexibility fast if the fit is merely solid instead of essential. Lizotte and Dewar may not move the needle on their own when it comes to Pittsburghs bigger picture, but they do give the team a cleaner financial path and a chance to keep building without overpaying for familiar depth. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Robertson Trade Saga Just Took A Much More Serious Turn
Jason Robertsons future has become one of the leagues more interesting summer watch items, and Pittsburgh has stayed in the conversation for a reason. The restricted free agent turned down an offer from Seattle and reportedly showed no interest in St. Louis, which only adds to the sense that his next move will be more complicated than a simple fit-and-sign scenario. For the Penguins, the appeal is obvious: they have the cap flexibility to make a serious run at him if the opportunity opens up.
The harder part is getting Dallas to the point where a deal makes sense for them, and that is where the process has slowed. Pittsburgh is being viewed as a club looking to do something meaningful, but interest alone does not close the gap on a player of Robertsons stature. The Penguins may still be in the mix, though the bigger question now is whether they can put together the kind of trade package that would keep the Stars engaged. [Read more 🡒]