NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins face pressure to trade Rickard Rakell despite strong 70-point season

As the Pittsburgh Penguins continue retooling after missing the playoffs, the spotlight now turns to veteran forward Rickard Rakell — a player drawing league-wide interest, but who reportedly prefers to stay right where he is.According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Rakell is not pushing for a trade despite the swirling rumors: “I’ve heard Rakell would prefer to stay in Pittsburgh,” Friedman said. “It’s just that it’s not his call. I’ve heard he is not averse to staying, but, ultimately, Dubas will make that decision.”This sentiment sets up a potentially emotional standoff between player loyalty and front-office strategy. Rakell, fresh off a career-best season with 35 goals and 35 assists, remains a core part of the Penguins’ offensive engine. Yet, with the team navigating a rebuild and trying to acquire future assets, trading the high-performing winger could net a significant return.While general manager Kyle Dubas weighs his options, one factor complicates any aggressive rebuild — the presence of Sidney Crosby. The franchise icon is still playing at a high level and is fiercely committed to contending. That urgency puts pressure on management to strike a delicate balance between building for the future and competing for the now.Crosby’s influence is undeniable, and there’s a growing sentiment that the Penguins owe it to him to keep the team competitive until he calls it a career. Rakell’s chemistry with Crosby and his consistent scoring make him an asset Dubas might hesitate to part with — unless the return is too good to pass up.The NHL offseason is rapidly heating up, and with other big-name trades already materializing across the league, Rakell’s situation could be resolved sooner rather than later. For now, the forward remains in Pittsburgh — hopeful to stay, but fully aware the decision lies elsewhere.Also Read: NHL trade rumors: Maple Leafs linked to shocking Morgan Rielly–Nazem Kadri swap to fix top-six gapWith the Penguins at a crossroads, every move this offseason could reshape their identity. Whether Rakell is part of that future remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Pittsburgh can’t afford to get this one wrong.