Kyle Dubas Sets Massive Asking Price for Top Penguins Forward
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The trade deadline is just one day away, and Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is in no rush to trade Rickard Rakell and has set an extremely high asking price for him.
Further trades are definitely on the way after Kyle Dubas shocked the hockey world Wednesday night
With fewer than 48 hours to go before the NHL trade deadline, Dubas finalized what appeared to be a small trade with the San Jose Sharks, trading Vincent Desharnais, who had a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins, for a fifth-round pick in 2028.
Then, one hour later, he made a much bigger splash, sending Michael Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Nashville Predators for Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn.
This is just the beginning, as a lot more action around the Penguins is expected today and tomorrow. Dubas' endgame is as clear as day. He's set on the future and wants to get younger.
Schenn added to the team is a solid depth guy, with a physical body, and an elder statesman voice for the wave of young blueliners headed to Pittsburgh in the years to come. But the real prize here is Novak.
Novak checks all the boxes of what Dubas is building. He's younger than Bunting, less expensive, has one more year on his contract, and, most importantly, plays center, a more valuable position.
This signing is a perfect fit for Dubas' blueprint of rebuilding the Penguins for long-term success.
And he's not finished. This is a great market for sellers, with teams paying top dollar for the best NHL players. It's an opportunity Dubas won't pass up. This is exactly the issue that is currently surrounding Rickard Rakell.
"Dubas isn't done yet. This is a remarkably fertile market for sellers. Teams are willing to give away high draft picks for above-average NHL players. This is something we haven't seen before, not to this extent."
- Josh Yohe
- Josh Yohe
It's going to cost teams a lot to acquire Rickard Rakell
Internally, the rumor is that Rakell is "available" at a steep price, which is exactly what Dubas should be commanding. If the smaller-name players are delivering huge returns, Rakell's value has to be absolutely astronomical.
"So, Dubas is very much in the spotlight. Just how much can he get for Rickard Rakell? Because I assure you that Rakell has been made available. But the price tag on Rakell, according to a source within the organization, is 'a king's ransom.'
But can you blame Dubas? Look at what inferior players to Rakell are producing in trades. Dubas should be asking for an enormous amount, and he is. Will he sell too low on Rakell? Will his asking price scare teams away? Is keeping Rakell the right move? Will he hit a home run, trading Rakell for foundational pieces of a bright Penguins future?"
- Josh Yohe
But can you blame Dubas? Look at what inferior players to Rakell are producing in trades. Dubas should be asking for an enormous amount, and he is. Will he sell too low on Rakell? Will his asking price scare teams away? Is keeping Rakell the right move? Will he hit a home run, trading Rakell for foundational pieces of a bright Penguins future?"
- Josh Yohe
The question is, will Dubas wait for a monumental return, or will he be forced to lower his price if desperation starts to set in?
Perhaps Dubas decides between keeping Rakell or shipping him off for a return haul that totally shapes the future of the Penguins.
These are the decisions that accompany the job. And that is exactly why Dubas is in the limelight over the next 24 hours or so.
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