Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell has been creating plenty of chatter in the rumor mill again now that the off-season is here. With the Penguins retooling their group, questions have naturally come up about the 32-year-old winger's future in Pittsburgh.
Rakell's value is undoubtedly high right now, as the veteran forward is coming off an excellent season for the Penguins. In 81 games on the year, the 6-foot-1 winger set new career highs with 35 goals and 70 points. With this, the Penguins undoubtedly could get a great return for him in a potential move, especially when noting that he has a bargain $5 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season.
Rakell is reportedly starting to generate interest, too, as The Fourth Period reported that the Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, Ottawa Senators, and Chicago Blackhawks are all reportedly linked to him.
The Kings have been connected to Rakell in the past, and it makes sense when noting that they certainly need another top-six right winger. The Kraken reportedly being in on Rakell is also understandable, as they had a disappointing season and have already been very active this summer. The Senators also have been on the hunt for a top-six winger, while the Blackhawks undoubtedly need to give young star Connor Bedard a star winger to work with.
Yet, while Rakell is reportedly garnering interest, the Penguins do not necessarily need to rush a move. As noted above, he is under contract for multiple more years, so the Penguins can wait for the best offer possible. It will be fascinating to see if he ends up getting moved before the start of next season from here.
Penguins Rumors: Pittsburgh Has Clear Target In Sabres StarThe Pittsburgh Penguins have multiple areas on their roster that they should be aiming to improve if they hope to be more competitive during the 2025-26 season. One of their most notable needs is strengthening their defense's left side. This will be even more of the case if Matt Grzelcyk signs elsewhere in free agency.
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