PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Hours after reports Evgeni Malkin would hit the free agent market, the Pens locked up one of their younger players to a six-year contract.
First reported by the Post-Gazette’s Mike DeFabo, Pittsburgh Hockey Now and others, forward Rickard Rakell will return to the Pens for six years, $30 million. The 29-year-old played 19 games with the Pens after they traded Zach Aston-Reese, Dominik Simon and a second-rounder for Rakell in March.
The thought with the 6’1” versatile forward was to make him a winger for Malkin. He scored four goals with nine assists and a plus seven after the deal. However, coaches and management like the way he fit into the system, obviously enough to sign him until he’s 35.
Rakell had 28 points (16 goals) in 51 games with Anaheim before the trade last season. His career high in goals (34) and assists (35) came in the same season, 2017-18 with the Ducks. He just turned 29 and said as he cleaned out his locker in May he said about his roughly two months with the Pens.
“It was a great experience for me,” Rakell said. “I think I’ve learned a lot from a lot of players and coaches. I feel like this team has a lot of potential. This is definitely a place I would like to come back to and where I think I could take my game to the next level as well.”
The contract will leave the Penguins with roughly $10 million to spend in free agency starting Wednesday at noon. We also have to consider they made qualifying offers to Kasperi Kapanen, Kasper Bjorkqvist and PO Joseph and that will likely eat a couple of million assuming they return.
Related
Trades are also a possibility to clear up cap room, but barring that, the Rakell signing likely signifies something else. The end of Evgeni Malkin’s storied 16-year career in Pittsburgh.