Penguins acquire forward Rickard Rakell from Ducks
The Penguins found some sorely needed middle six-scoring at the NHL’s trade deadline by acquiring forward Rickard Rakell from the Anaheim Ducks.
Rakell, 28, is in the final year of a six-year contract that carries a salary cap hit of $3,789,444. Per the terms of the deal, the Ducks will retain $1,326,305 (35%) of Rakell’s average annual value.
He is a pending unrestricted free agent this offseason.
In return, the Penguins sent bottom-six forwards Zach Aston-Reese, Dominik Simon, goaltending prospect Calle Clang and a second-round pick in the 2022 draft.
General manager Ron Hextall indicated Rakell is expected to be available for Tuesday’s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Appearing in 51 games this season, Rakell (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) has 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) while averaging 18 minutes, 21 seconds of ice time, including 2:32 in power-play situations. He led the Ducks in shots (136) before being traded.
He has missed the past three games with an undisclosed injury.
For most of the season, Rakell has played on the left wing of the Ducks’ second line with Adam Henrique at center and Sonny Milano on left wing. Presumably, he will play on the Penguins’ second line.
A first-round pick (No. 30 overall) in 2011, Rakell has spent his entire 10-year NHL career with the Ducks. He has reached the 30-goal plateau twice in his career but not since the 2017-18 season.
Aston-Reese (one-year contract – $1.725 million) and Simon (one-year contract - $750,000) are each pending unrestricted free agents as well.
A member of the Penguins for the past five seasons, Aston-Reese, 27, was part of a strong fourth-line typically centered by Teddy Blueger for the past three seasons as well as one of the team’s leading penalty-killers. In 52 games this season, Aston-Reese had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) while averaging 12:55 of ice time per contest.
As for Simon, he primarily skated in a bottom-six role this season, particularly as a frequent injury replacement. In 55 games this season, the 27-year-old had nine points (three goals, six assists) and an average of 9:39 of ice time per contest.
Clang, 19, was a third-round pick (No. 77 overall) in 2020 and has yet to sign an NHL contract. A native of Sweden, Clang is currently playing for Rogle of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) In 17 games this season, Clang has a 10-5-0 record, a 2.28 goals against average, a .915 save percentage and one shutout.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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