Value of: Rickard Rakell or Bryan Rust

[DesertPenguin]

The Penguins considered dealing Rakell at the TDL but passed. Rust had trade restrictions but those expire July 1st. Pens want to get younger in order to rebuild on the fly before Sid retires. Prefer prospects or young players to picks. LHD and Cs preferred but all positions but goal are needed in some capacity. Willing to package either of these players with our own picks for the right deal. Pens own 1sts, NYR pick we own are likely off limits, but any of the many 2nds we have as well as any late firsts we might acquire in other deals (see Karlsson, Erik) are fair game.

Rickard Rakell
32yo RHS winger
3 years remaining at 5m/per
8 team no trade list
Coming off a 35g/35a season, averaging 0.72ppg last three years

Bryan Rust
32yo RHS winger
3 years remaining at 5.125m/per
No trade restrictions after July 1st
Coming off a 31g/34a season, averaging 0.78ppg last three years

 

[Djp]

Given their age and contract they are risky in being anchors before the end of the contracts, on top of it you also want decent young players.

You need to retain to get any value.

 

[Bishop7979]

Given their age and contract they are risky in being anchors before the end of the contracts, on top of it you also want decent young players.

You need to retain to get any value.

I'm calling bullshit on that last part. Both are consistent points producers who, with the cap going up represent 5.25% of next year's cap, a percentage that will only go down as the cap increases.

Both players have value at their current cap hit, for teams that want to compete in the next two years you are not getting that kind of production for 5mil per season in the free agent market.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Given their age and contract they are risky in being anchors before the end of the contracts, on top of it you also want decent young players.

You need to retain to get any value.

I'll agree that other teams would be stupid given their ages to trade comparable RFA roster players for either of those two. However, they both should easily get a 1st+ on return just based on their production relative to cap hits. Even if they decline, that will be the going rate for a consistent 3rd line forwards with the increasing cap.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Given their age and contract they are risky in being anchors before the end of the contracts, on top of it you also want decent young players.

You need to retain to get any value.

Ridiculous. Look at the contracts Marchessault and Toffoli signed last year, and that's with a much lower cap.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

Sorry, OP. This is HFBoards, where every player over the age of 25 is basically dead.

 

[3074326]

Given their age and contract they are risky in being anchors before the end of the contracts, on top of it you also want decent young players.

You need to retain to get any value.

Ah yes the rare negative value 30+ goal scorers who aren’t on bad contracts

Sounds like you’re basing your opinion on what you’ve read in the trade forum and not basing it on what actually happens in the NHL.

 

[RationalExpectations]

both very good players, top 6 on most teams. I think easily worth 1st + good prospect + small add. If the goal is to get younger players it will be more complicated but I could see a lot of Teams in demand. And VGK has not traded connelly yet…

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Rust is a good player but if I’m an acquiring team he’s the guy I’d be worried about age and a fall off. However his name and rep might net him more than we expect in a trade.

Meanwhile Rakell is a f***ing beast. I understand he shot a higher SH% but even if he reverts to 25g guy he has been a beast on the boards, physical, great possession guy below the net, skilled. Can pass or snipe. Really the only thing you can’t say about him is that he’s a burner.

Forgetting production if he plays like he has when healthy in Pittsburgh he’s a hell of a player and really getting underrated compared to his reputation. I wonder if he’d net as much in a trade as I think he’s worth (two good pieces.. equivalent of two 1sts). I think probably not which is a shame.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I’d expect a similar return to what the Penguins paid for Zucker back in the day, so a contract, a B prospect and a late 1st. Maybe the rising cap means the Penguins won’t have to take a contract back as well, but something like a late 1st and a 2nd/B prospect is what I’d expect.

 

[Djp]

Ah yes the rare negative value 30+ goal scorers who aren’t on bad contracts

Sounds like you’re basing your opinion on what you’ve read in the trade forum and not basing it on what actually happens in the NHL.

Both will have negative ROIs their final yrars

 

[TGWL]

My fear with Rust is that I don't think he's going to get over 19min and enough powerplay time to keep that production. I'm expecting a decent drop here with a different team. But at the current cap and with it rising, I think it's worth a risk for some teams.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Both will have negative ROIs their final yrars

In the final years of their deal, the salary cap is going to be like $130 million.

Bottom-6 players will be earning $5 million by the time their deals are done.

My fear with Rust is that I don't think he's going to get over 19min and enough powerplay time to keep that production. I'm expecting a decent drop here with a different team. But at the current cap and with it rising, I think it's worth a risk for some teams.

He almost assuredly won't maintain the production he has, I think he'd be a 50 point 2nd liner on most other teams. That said, a 50 point 2nd liner who is strong defensively, kills penalties and is a leader in the locker room is still an attractive piece IMO.

 

[SEALBound]

You're not paying for him at the end, you're paying for a 35g scorer on a $5mil deal now, and likely next year.

 

[DesertPenguin]

Both of these guys are 30G top six wings that do the little things right as to not hurt you even if they drop off. If they were on the UFA market you'd be paying more, and would have to sign them longer than the 3 years on their contracts, risking still having them on the books deep into their declining years. They're valuable. Either to cap strap teams with a hole at wing, or teams that aren't attractive UFA destinations (Buffalo seems like a prime candidate). 1st and a B prospect seems about right.

 

[Bishop7979]

Rust is the type of player new jersey should be all over. With five of your top six being Hughes, hischer, Meier, bratt, and rust you are killing it.

It feels like Mercer has been a bit disappointing this year, is there a basis for a trade there?

Stack new jerseys top six by adding rust and improve your PK while only adding a hair over a mile in cap space, because even if in three years his production slips rust will still be a great third line and top pk guy, wearing an A, making potentially less than what 3rd line guys make in three years.

While the pens get younger and Mercer a fresh start, at his natural position, maybe have him center the second line while malkin finishes his career at wing.

But it wouldn't surprise me if the rangers make an offer for him in the off-season. Sullivan loves the guy, it wouldn't surprise me if Sullivan slept with a little number 17 teddy bear at night or calls his wife "Rusty" during sex.

 

[Bishop7979]

Both of these guys are 30G top six wings that do the little things right as to not hurt you even if they drop off. If they were on the UFA market you'd be paying more, and would have to sign them longer than the 3 years on their contracts, risking still having them on the books deep into their declining years. They're valuable. Either to cap strap teams with a hole at wing, or teams that aren't attractive UFA destinations (Buffalo seems like a prime candidate). 1st and a B prospect seems about right.

Rakell feels like a Detroit or Buffalo type move.

Buffalo has so many young wingers that getting an establish guy like rakell should be a priority to help them take the next step even if it's a short term move.

And they could give up one major young piece or a a pair of lesser but still talented prices as part of a deal.

When your top six has tage,tuch,j.j, and Norris Buffalo has the ability to move under 25 assesta for a legit and productive top six winger.

But buffalos line ups were so random towards the end of the year I don't even know who is considered a lock top six player outside of tage anymore, so I don't even know the values for anyone like Quinn, Benson, kulich, poltapov, or rossen. Tage has been bumped to wing, tuch was playing on the third line... What's going on with buffalo.

With Detroit rakell seems like exactly what yzerman has been looking for but hasn't been able to get. He'd be an obvious upgrade on tarasenko and most likely Kane.

Rakell would look amazing on a line with Raymond and Larkin, they would light other teams up.

 

[DesertPenguin]

Rakell feels like a Detroit or Buffalo type move.

Buffalo has so many young wingers that getting an establish guy like rakell should be a priority to help them take the next step even if it's a short term move.

And they could give up one major young piece or a a pair of lesser but still talented prices as part of a deal.

When your top six has tage,tuch,j.j, and Norris Buffalo has the ability to move under 25 assesta for a legit and productive top six winger.

But buffalos line ups were so random towards the end of the year I don't even know who is considered a lock top six player outside of tage anymore, so I don't even know the values for anyone like Quinn, Benson, kulich, poltapov, or rossen. Tage has been bumped to wing, tuch was playing on the third line... What's going on with buffalo.

With Detroit rakell seems like exactly what yzerman has been looking for but hasn't been able to get. He'd be an obvious upgrade on tarasenko and most likely Kane.

Rakell would look amazing on a line with Raymond and Larkin, they would light other teams up.

I think Rust is the better leader type, so I'd send him to Buffalo and Rakell to Det

 

[66-30-33]

You need to retain to get any value.

What in the actual what?

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

I've wondered about one of these guys to Vancouver but I think we need to save most of our assets for a center and hope to acquire a winger via free agency (I'm praying for Ehlers).

But I could see something around Hoglander or Mancini and a 2nd and maybe something else. Probably not enough but probably the most we could offer unless some dominoes fall.

 

[edevils]

Casey

for:

Rakell + one of your 2026 3rds

 

[RationalExpectations]

Casey

for:

Rakell + one of your 2026 3rds

Pick is too low and on the wrong side of the equation in my opinion.