The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Lars Eller after a sluggish begin to the 2024-25 marketing campaign. Pittsburgh appeared as in the event that they had been getting into a rebuild after they made the commerce. Head coach Mike Sullivan was on the new seat whereas the Penguins appeared destined for the underside of the Jap Convention. Nevertheless, because of gamers akin to Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Rickard Rakell, issues modified.
Pittsburgh turned itself round in fairly spectacular vogue. They beat some actually good groups and climbed the Wild Card standings. Their play getting into the 4 Nations event break wasn’t nice, to be truthful. Nevertheless, the Penguins are solely six factors again of the Detroit Pink Wings within the Wild Card race.
Because of this, it is laborious for a crew just like the Penguins to justify promoting. It is a said objective of normal supervisor Kyle Dubas that he needs to accumulate youthful, NHL-caliber gamers. With a view to try this, although, that you must give one thing of worth in return. It is laborious to do that whereas your crew shouldn’t be out of the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Nevertheless, the Penguins may very well be in luck. Rakell is among the finest commerce candidates available on the market this season. He’s signed previous the 2024-25 marketing campaign, as effectively. His offense has picked again up after a down 12 months in 2023-24, which suggests contending groups may actually begin choosing up the telephones.
Buying and selling a participant like Rakell on this spot shouldn’t be a straightforward determination to make. Nevertheless, for the Penguins, it is the proper determination. They may get extra out of buying and selling Rakell now than they’ll in the event that they wait till the summer time.
Rickard Rakell may internet huge return in vendor’s market
The 2025 NHL Commerce Deadline is fairly fascinating to look at. Normally, there’s some extent of separation between the playoff contenders and the non-playoff golf equipment. And to some extent, this rings true in 2024-25. The Anaheim Geese, as an example, are 9 factors again of the Vancouver Canucks within the West Wild Card race. However they don’t seem to be seen as a real playoff contender this 12 months.
In saying this, there are numerous groups within the NHL which might be nearer to the postseason than Anaheim. The Penguins are certainly one of these groups. In actual fact, Pittsburgh is certainly one of six groups within the East who’re inside six factors of the Pink Wings for the ultimate Wild Card spot.
This has created a vendor’s market forward of the NHL Commerce Deadline. There are way more groups in competition than there are out of competition. Those that have already dedicated to promoting due to this fact management the costs available on the market. If a contending crew needs so as to add, they’ll seemingly have to pay a bit greater than they’re initially snug with.
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Because of this, the Penguins may herald a large haul for Rickard Rakell. The veteran winger has proven he could be a authentic offensive producer within the high six. In actual fact, no Penguins participant has scored extra targets this 12 months than the 31-year-old Swede. Not Crosby, not Malkin, not Kris Letang, and never even Erik Karlsson.
Rakell is a participant numerous contending groups would love so as to add round this time of 12 months. Particularly given that he’s not a rental. With this in thoughts, the Penguins ought to take full benefit and pressure contending groups right into a bidding struggle for his companies.
Penguins will not be a Stanley Cup contender
There are just a few groups on this playoff race who’re making an attempt to easily make it. For groups such because the Pink Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets, merely getting their foot within the door is a victory. This isn’t to say that they are not making an attempt to win a Stanley Cup. It is extra that these are youthful groups whose aggressive window is starting to open.
The Penguins, whereas having acquired youthful gamers just lately, will not be certainly one of these groups. They’ve an getting old core and are headed for an inevitable rebuild sooner or later. However for example, for argument’s sake, that Pittsburgh makes the playoffs this season. Are they a authentic Stanley Cup contender in 2025?
The reply to this query is a agency “no.” Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson are nonetheless very succesful gamers. Crosby, specifically, continues to be an elite participant at this degree. Nevertheless, there are too many query marks for this membership. Pittsburgh’s protection shouldn’t be the perfect, and their goaltending scenario is even worse.
Is protecting Rickard Rakell on the roster value it for the Penguins in the event that they merely bow out within the first two rounds? Given what they need to have the ability to get for the veteran winger, the reply to that is additionally a agency “no.” Pittsburgh can maximize their return now by buying and selling him earlier than March seventh. And after they discover themselves on this place down the road, a Rakell commerce may very well be a serious cause why they’re extra suited to compete for the Stanley Cup than they’re now.