The NHL rumor mill is buzzing, and one name that keeps popping up in connection with the Toronto Maple Leafs is Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell. As an expert who’s been following these rumors since the season ended, I can tell you there’s more smoke here than from a Zamboni’s exhaust.
Rickard Rakell to the Maple Leafs?
Sources close to the situation, like Sonny Sachdeva of Sportsnet, have confirmed that Rakell is very much on the trading block. Now, don’t expect Penguins GM Kyle Dubas to make a knee-jerk reaction. He’s playing the long game, looking for a deal that will genuinely improve his club’s future. With the Penguins in a clear rebuilding phase, the asking price is likely centered around high-value draft picks and top-tier prospects. This is where the Maple Leafs, a team in a “win-now” window, could find a willing trade partner.
Rakell’s contract is a significant piece of this puzzle. He carries a $5 million AAV through the 2027-28 season and has an eight-team no-trade list. My sources tell me the Leafs are not on that list, which opens a clear path for a potential deal. If Toronto’s GM Brad Treliving can put together an enticing package, we could very well see Rakell in a blue and white sweater to kick off the 2025-26 season.
The Salary Cap Gymnastics
Of course, no trade in today’s NHL is simple. The Maple Leafs currently have about $1.9 million in cap space. They could create more room by moving a player like David Kampf, who has a $2.4 million cap hit. However, even with that move, they’ll either need to shed more salary or, more likely, convince the Penguins to retain a portion of Rakell’s salary.
This is where things get really interesting. If Dubas agrees to eat some of Rakell’s contract, you can bet he’ll be asking for a king’s ransom in return. The name I keep hearing in that scenario? Top prospect Easton Cowan. A move like that would be a blockbuster, sending shockwaves through the league and signaling a clear direction for both franchises.
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