According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, the Anaheim Ducks are trading forward Rickard Rakell to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The return hasn’t yet been announced but it’s speculated to be a second-round pick in 2022 plus a prospect, along with a roster player for salary cap reasons.
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Rakell was a name that was floating around at the trade deadline but it wasn’t clear until a couple of weeks ago that the Ducks were actively trying to move him. The 28-year-old is pending UFA and the price to acquire him was likely to be high. He has 16 goals and 12 assists for the Ducks this season and he can play both wings and provide some real offensive punch to the Penguins’ lineup. Perhaps what will have the Penguins fans most excited is that Rakell is a big body who will fit well on Evgeni Malkin’s wing. The Penguins will now have a strong top nine that can compete in a competitive Eastern Conference.
He’s played his entire 11-year career in Anaheim and has 154 career goals and 185 assists.
The Boston Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights were also rumored to be in on Rakell.
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