The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Lars Eller after a slow begin to the 2024-25 campaign. Pittsburgh appeared as in the event that they were entering a rebuild once they made the trade. Head coach Mike Sullivan was on the new seat while the Penguins seemed destined for the underside of the Eastern Conference. Nevertheless, because of players akin to Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Rickard Rakell, things modified.
Pittsburgh turned itself around in fairly impressive fashion. They beat some really good teams and climbed the Wild Card standings. Their play entering the 4 Nations tournament break wasn’t great, to be fair. Nevertheless, the Penguins are only six points back of the Detroit Red Wings within the Wild Card race.
In consequence, it’s hard for a team just like the Penguins to justify selling. It is a stated goal of general manager Kyle Dubas that he wants to accumulate younger, NHL-caliber players. With a view to do this, though, you have to give something of value in return. It’s hard to do that while your team isn’t out of the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Nevertheless, the Penguins may very well be in luck. Rakell is probably the greatest trade candidates available on the market this season. He’s signed past the 2024-25 campaign, as well. His offense has picked back up after a down yr in 2023-24, which implies contending teams could definitely start picking up the phones.
Trading a player like Rakell on this spot isn’t a simple decision to make. Nevertheless, for the Penguins, it’s the proper decision. They’ll get more out of trading Rakell now than they’ll in the event that they wait until the summer.
Rickard Rakell could net massive return in seller’s market
The 2025 NHL Trade Deadline is fairly interesting to look at. Normally, there’s a point of separation between the playoff contenders and the non-playoff clubs. And to some extent, this rings true in 2024-25. The Anaheim Geese, as an illustration, are nine points back of the Vancouver Canucks within the West Wild Card race. But they will not be seen as a real playoff contender this yr.
In saying this, there are numerous teams within the NHL which can be closer to the postseason than Anaheim. The Penguins are one among these teams. In reality, Pittsburgh is one among six teams within the East who’re inside six points of the Red Wings for the ultimate Wild Card spot.
This has created a seller’s market ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline. There are way more teams in contention than there are out of contention. Those that have already committed to selling due to this fact control the costs available on the market. If a contending team wants so as to add, they’ll likely have to pay a bit greater than they’re initially comfortable with.
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In consequence, the Penguins could usher in an enormous haul for Rickard Rakell. The veteran winger has shown he generally is a legitimate offensive producer in the highest six. In reality, no Penguins player has scored more goals this yr than the 31-year-old Swede. Not Crosby, not Malkin, not Kris Letang, and never even Erik Karlsson.
Rakell is a player numerous contending teams would love so as to add around this time of yr. Especially on condition that he isn’t a rental. With this in mind, the Penguins should take full advantage and force contending teams right into a bidding war for his services.
Penguins will not be a Stanley Cup contender
There are a couple of teams on this playoff race who try to easily make it. For teams akin to the Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets, simply getting their foot within the door is a victory. This isn’t to say that they don’t seem to be attempting to win a Stanley Cup. It’s more that these are younger teams whose competitive window is starting to open.
The Penguins, while having acquired younger players recently, will not be one among these teams. They’ve an aging core and are headed for an inevitable rebuild in some unspecified time in the future. But to illustrate, for argument’s sake, that Pittsburgh makes the playoffs this season. Are they a legitimate Stanley Cup contender in 2025?
The reply to this query is a firm “no.” Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson are still very capable players. Crosby, specifically, remains to be an elite player at this level. Nevertheless, there are too many query marks for this club. Pittsburgh’s defense isn’t the most effective, and their goaltending situation is even worse.
Is keeping Rickard Rakell on the roster value it for the Penguins in the event that they simply bow out in the primary two rounds? Given what they need to have the option to get for the veteran winger, the reply to this can be a firm “no.” Pittsburgh can maximize their return now by trading him before March seventh. And once they find themselves on this position down the road, a Rakell trade may very well be a significant reason why they’re more suited to compete for the Stanley Cup than they at the moment are.
