Penguins willing to sacrifice fan favorites for massive Draft move

The NHL Draft is just hours away, and the Pittsburgh Penguins appear to be working the phones hard. But the endgame might not be what most fans initially assumed.
According to TSN insider Darren Dreger, speaking on the Nielson Show earlier this week, the recent wave of trade speculation surrounding Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell is directly tied to Pittsburgh’s desire to climb the draft board. The Penguins reportedly want to move up in the draft order, and dangling established veterans like Rust and Rakell is how they plan to make it happen.
That context reframes the conversation around both players considerably. Trade rumors involving Rust and Rakell have been circulating for months, but many observers viewed them through the lens of a typical salary dump or roster retool. Dreger’s comments suggest something more targeted.
Advertisement

Pittsburgh currently holds a pick outside the top tier of this year’s draft class, and moving into a higher slot would give the organization a chance to land one of the more coveted prospects available. Packaging a proven NHL forward could be the kind of sweetener that convinces a team sitting higher in the order to swap positions.
Rust and Rakell both carry legitimate value around the league. Rust has been a consistent contributor for the Penguins over multiple seasons, and Rakell brings offensive versatility that playoff contenders covet. Either player could slot into a competing team’s top nine immediately, which makes them attractive trade chips.
With the draft set for later tonight, the Penguins have a very narrow window to strike a deal. Teams holding top picks will be fielding calls from multiple suitors, and Pittsburgh will need to put together a compelling enough package to beat out the competition.
It remains to be seen whether the Penguins can find a willing trade partner. Moving up in the draft often requires overpaying, and parting with a player like Rust or Rakell is no small sacrifice for a franchise that still has Stanley Cup aspirations tied to its aging core.
Advertisement

For now, all eyes turn to tonight in the hours leading up to the first round, when Pittsburgh’s front office will either pull the trigger on a move or walk away with their first pick at 22.
Read More Feedzy