Confirmed Signing with Link: [PIT] Penguins re-sign F Rickard Rakell (6 years, $5M AAV)

[Neutrinos]

When do these types of contacts ever work for the team?

Rackell is 29, and hasn't scored above a 24 goal pace since 2018

Pittsburgh's new management team seem to be modelling their philosophy towards roster construction on the one that was used to build the San Jose Sharks

 

[TheNumber4]

He was amazing when they put him on the line with Crosby and Guentzel. That line flat out dominated possession in a way that any incarnation of Crosby's line combinations over the last few years haven't.

Unfortunately, Sullivan loves Rust on that line and is too damn pigheaded to keep Rakell there. But Rakell individually still adds a dimension to the Pens' top six winger group they don't really have.

I stand corrected. If the Pens fans like him, who am i to argue. Good signing then.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

This makes me happy.

 

[DesertPenguin]

When do these types of contacts ever work for the team?

Rackell is 29, and hasn't scored above a 24 goal pace since 2018

Pittsburgh's new management team seem to be modelling their philosophy towards roster construction on the one that was used to build the San Jose Sharks

This team does remind me a lot of the sharks, age wise. That team did make one last cup run before it all fell apart, so hey let's do it.

A little over 10m left to sign Malkin, Kapanen (who we qualified and will likely go to arbitration) and a depth F. Malkin still fits under 7m. We could even do more if we can dump a LD.

 

[BB88]

Don’t really know why he wanted to sign with the Pens.

They aren’t exactly looking at going to places

 

[Ryder71]

Clearly I'm in the minority here but I like the Cap hit and term. Five yrs would have been fine though. He was a pretty solid all around player in a Pens uniform. Better than I anticipated coming from the Ducks.

 

[Night Shift]

Don’t really know why he wanted to sign with the Pens.

They aren’t exactly looking at going to places

I think it was about a month back but it was rumored or quoted he hoped to stay because he liked the city.

 

[Shawn Heins 44]

Don’t really know why he wanted to sign with the Pens.

They aren’t exactly looking at going to places

Well to be fair he was only there for a short time and the Pens were absolutely on the verge of taking the Rangers (who went to the ECF) down, with their 3rd string Goalie - and then Crosby got to meet Trouba. So with the team performance he was part of there is absolutely a way for them to go places.

 

[RangerBoy]

Yes if they don't sign Kapanen (they qualified him today), it gets really tight if Kapanen gets signed though.

They have $10.3 million in cap space while needing to re-sign Malkin, 2 middle-6 wingers and a 14th forward. You could do that fairly easily with Malkin, 2 reclamation projects in UFA (like Heinen and Rodrigues were last year) and a league minimum 14th forward, but it gets dicey if they pay Kapanen.

Why wouldn't they sign Kapanen? Pittsburgh gave him a qualifying offer. He files for salary arbitration. A team can't walk away from a number below $4,538,958. Kapanen isn't getting that much. If Pittsburgh didn't want to pay Kapanen, they shouldn't have qualified him.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

Why wouldn't they sign Kapanen? Pittsburgh gave him a qualifying offer. He files for salary arbitration. A team can't walk away from a number below $4,538,958. Kapanen isn't getting that much. If Pittsburgh didn't want to pay Kapanen, they shouldn't have qualified him.

It's harder to trade a player that you haven't qualified, because we wouldn't be able to trade him after free agency opens.

 

[Jerkbait]

This team does remind me a lot of the sharks, age wise. That team did make one last cup run before it all fell apart, so hey let's do it.

A little over 10m left to sign Malkin, Kapanen (who we qualified and will likely go to arbitration) and a depth F. Malkin still fits under 7m. We could even do more if we can dump a LD.

The problem with that is then you March out the same crew a year older who didn't get the job done for many years now and are expecting a different result .

That window has closed . I don't any issue with 5mil for RR but the term won't age well with the team .

 

[max21]

I used to watch this dude play for the Norfolk Admirals, he was a fun player to watch. I had him on fantasy in 17-18 and he was a beast, couple down seasons since then. Maybe he will rebound with Pittsburgh

 

[wej20]

I used to watch this dude play for the Norfolk Admirals, he was a fun player to watch. I had him on fantasy in 17-18 and he was a beast, couple down seasons since then. Maybe he will rebound with Pittsburgh

He looked good with the Pens, the flexibility to look good on both wings is a nice bonus too.

 

[orby]

It's a little much and a little long, but the Pens need to snag some legit top 6 guys like Rakell to stay competitive, especially if Malkin walks.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Go see how Chicago is enjoying their loyalty.

Who exactly were the Hawks loyal too they shouldn't have been? (And I'll give you Seabrook from a historical perspective, but he's no longer on the team.)

I get loyalty. If I were Geno's camp, I would have jumped at the supposed 3 year contract term, which IMO was very fair given his age and recent health issues. Holding out for more than that is trying to take advantage IMO, and good on the Pens for holding their ground.

 

[Coastal Kev]

The problem with that is then you March out the same crew a year older who didn't get the job done for many years now and are expecting a different result .

That window has closed . I don't any issue with 5mil for RR but the term won't age well with the team .

This has been my mantra on the Pens board goin on 4 offseasons now.

 

[TooManyHumans]

Don’t really know why he wanted to sign with the Pens.

They aren’t exactly looking at going to places

His stuff is all in Pittsburgh.

 

[Curufinwe]

Seems steep.

 

[Captain Mountain]

A 2nd line, offensive winger signed until their mid-30s for big money and term? Really don't think this ages well.

 

[One Winged Angel]

I’m guessing this means Malkin is done in Pittsburgh? $10m to sign him, Kapanen and Rodrigues? Assuming they want to bring Rodrigues back.

 

[DuklaNation]

Term should have been matched with Crosby's status. Maybe 3 years only. Expect a buyout down the line.

 

[TGWL]

So Copp is definitely getting 5.5-6 over 6/7 years. Seems like everybody is getting their term. No wonder Rangers are out.

I don't like the term for Penguins, but hey, they had a great run. Keep it going for a little longer and then watch it burn down. Circle of life?

 

[Captain Hook]

I thought he played well in Pittsburgh. He looked closer to the player he was a few years ago in Anaheim with a better team around him in Pittsburgh. The salary is fine to me. The term is a bit much but it seems like any player that's even decent gets 5 or 6 year deals now. That's just the market.

 

[Rockomax]

Seems fair to me. 4 years would have been ideal. 6 is not the end of the world.

 

[BigVegas17]

I was hoping for 5 x 4.5M but if this is what it took to keep him around, no complaints at all. REally liked what he brought to the table at the end of the season and will be a solid 1-2 RW for Sid, Geno, or whoever slots in at 2C.