The free agent marketplace for a top-six forward is pretty bare, so teams could call the Pittsburgh Penguins to see what they’ve available
SDPN: (YouTube) Chris Johnston and Julian McKenzie on The Chris Johnston Show talking concerning the Pittsburgh Penguins and two of their forwards – Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell – who’re getting some trade interest.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Julian McKenzie: “Let’s flashback to a few of days ago. You sent out this tweet, ‘Something to control once Nikolai Ehlers makes his free agent decision, there’s a way it could spur trade activity among the many teams who fall short of their pursuit of the talented winger.
Since that tweet, Nikolai Ehlers has joined the Carolina Hurricanes. So what does that mean for trades, CJ?
Johnston: “Well, what it means is that obviously just one team, the Hurricanes, on this case, could get Ehlers. And there are lots of teams on the market which can be still in search of, I’d call it type of top-six offensive assist in their lineup.
And so now that the market resets. And you already know, we’re just coming through the July 4 long weekend within the US, not numerous hockey-related business being done, probably not numerous business of any type being done over the weekend south of the border.
But actually, as we get into this week, I do think it’s something to look at out for. And you already know, to me, a team to actually control is the Pittsburgh Penguins, because they’ve two such players that fit the bill, potentially, that I believe Pittsburgh would move on from. That being Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust.
Brian Rust, as of July 1st lost some no-trade, no-move protection in his contract, so he’s becomes more movable as an asset. And naturally, Rakell was a player the Penguins had discussions on, you already know, leading as much as the trade deadline. Elected to maintain him at the moment. But, you already know, is someone that is understood to be available across the league.
And so, you already know, Pittsburgh, I believe, is in a fairly great spot here, within the sense that they honestly are one among the one teams that I believe will not be attempting to win a Stanley Cup next yr. Or not attempting to take a meaningful jump within the standings.
So that they, they’ve the flexibility, they don’t have numerous competition, I’d say when it comes to, you already know, other teams selling those sorts of players and and, you already know, they’ve, they’ve established a high price on them. And so, you already know, I don’t know, you already know who’s going to step up and meet that just yet, or where that’s going to go, but I do think that they’re sort of on the Nexus now as we’re seeking to the following things.
I mean, there’s, actually, there’s a number of players remaining on the free agent list that don’t have contracts, but, you already know, I believe numerous teams which can be in search of more impactful players still at this stage of the summer are going to focus their their, you already know their attentions on the trade market.
McKenzie: “Richard Rakell, at $5 mill in a rising cap environment. A man who’s in a position to hit 30 goals a season. That doesn’t sound bad to me, if I’m a GM in search of, for scoring along the wing.
I do know Brian Rust, obviously, with the experience of the previous couple of years, being an element of an entire bunch of cup runs with Sidney Crosby, but Richard Rakell, for me, I’d like to have that player in my lineup if I could afford it.
Johnston: “Obviously. And he’s coming off an awesome season. You understand, which is, again, I believe, bolsters the marketplace for Kyle Dubas, as he, you already know, takes those, those sort of phone calls from his colleagues across the league.
And, and, you already know, he helped firm on the deadline. I mean, there was actually numerous teams poking around Rakell leading as much as March seventh, and ultimately, Pittsburgh decided not to maneuver on from him.
And you already know, the Penguins now have had sort of, what I’d call a busy free agent period this I do know numerous players the short-term deals. Principally taking some bets on, on, on guys that you already know, possibly their stock isn’t the best. I believe of some like Anthony Mantha, for instance, getting a one yr deal there in Pittsburgh. You understand, attempting to attempt to uncover a number of players which can be going to be bouncing back this yr, after which possibly that’s given them a capability to trade off, to roster much more and cut deeper.
Since you’re right. Rakell signed for a number of more seasons too, which I believe would hold appeal to someone giving up quite a bit for him.
Rust is a very interesting player. I mean, he was a giant a part of those 2016 and 2017 Cup wins. That may be a good more emotional kind of trade, I’d say, for the Penguins, simply because he’s been around so long. He’s been a line mate very often, of Sidney Crosby’s.
And, you already know, he’s been a consistent player. You have a look at his production, he’s just, he’s providing you with 20 plus goals yearly, yr after yr after yr. And you already know, knows what it takes to play a winning brand of hockey. And so, you already know, the worth on him, I do know, is very high for anyone that wishes to get in there.
But that’s, we’re at that stage of the summer now where, when you don’t just like the composition of your top-six, and also you’re across the league, you’re the free agent list. And respect to those players, possibly Jack Roslovic could play somewhere in a top six, possibly, he still unsigned. But, I mean, there really aren’t numerous obvious solutions on the UFA list at this time limit. And so that you’ve got to look elsewhere.
Now, there are a number of other teams, you already know, I’ve heard, you already know, Seattle, you already know, may be compelled to maneuver someone like Jared McCann. There’s, there’s another places to knock. I’m not saying it’s only Pittsburgh, but because Pittsburgh (A) has the motivation, I believe, to maintain turning over the roster, and (B) has two players that you already know would generate a good little bit of interest across the league. I do think that they’re a robust possibility for where the following move could occur.
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