The Buffalo Sabres are in a familiar, and frankly, unenviable position. Just when it seems like they’re building momentum, the injury bug bites hard. Losing Josh Norris for a significant amount of time is a blow to their forward depth, and the front office is scrambling for a solution. One name that’s been floated is the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rickard Rakell, and while it’s an intriguing idea, it’s far from a simple fix.
Why a Rakell Trade is a Double-Edged Sword for the Sabres
From a hockey perspective, I can see the appeal. Rakell is a versatile, veteran forward who can slot in at either center or wing, providing some much-needed flexibility in the middle-six. He’s a proven goal-scorer who could inject some offense into a lineup that desperately needs it. However, we can’t ignore the contract. Rakell is signed through the 2027-28 season with a $5 million AAV. That’s a significant commitment for a 32-year-old player who may be on the back nine of his career.
The Sabres need to ask themselves if they’re willing to take on that kind of salary for a player who might not be a long-term solution. Then there is the eight-team no-trade list which could be a problem for the Sabres. Given the Sabres’ long-time woes, they’re likely among the teams on his no-trade list.
The View from Pittsburgh: A Necessary Cap Casualty?
For the Pittsburgh Penguins, moving Rakell could be a savvy move. They’re a team that’s always looking to re-tool on the fly, and shedding his $5 million salary would give them some much-needed cap flexibility. They could use that space to address other areas of need or to bring in some younger, cheaper talent.
While Rakell has been a solid contributor, he’s not untouchable, and the Penguins have a history of making tough decisions to stay competitive. A trade to the Sabres would be a classic “sell-high” move for the Penguins, and one that could benefit them in the long run. The Sabres would have to give up some serious assets in order to get the deal done.
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The post The Rakell Gamble: A Risky Solution to the Sabres’ Injury Woes? appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
