Kyle Dubas' True Plans for Penguins Star Forward Finally Revealed

The Penguins never came close to trading Rickard Rakell before Friday's NHL trade deadline, per NHL insider Josh Yohe. There was plenty of interest, as teams lined up with significant offers for one of the most skilled goal scorers available.

But while Rakell could have been moved for the right price, that price was never met. In reality, Kyle Dubas never expected it to be. The Penguins never truly wanted to part with him.

They think they can remain competitive with Rakell still under contract. A 30-goal scorer who makes $5 million a year is a steal, especially with the salary cap going up in the league.

Dubas isn't looking to blow things up entirely; he's watched how franchises like Chicago and San Jose have flailed after bottoming out, and he's not interested in following that path, Yohe states.

Would he like the No. 1 pick this year or next, when generational talent Gavin McKenna is expected to be available? Of course. But he won't tank to get there.

The lottery is unpredictable, and even if a team finishes last, there's no guarantee of landing the top pick. Dubas prefers a retooling approach, similar to how Washington has handled its transition.

But that's not to say Rakell's leadership can't be involved. With many young players knocking on the organization's door soon, the Penguins value having veterans like Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, and Rakell leading them.

Not only are they productive on the ice, but that trio's also highly respected across the league.

Could Rakell be traded sometime in the future? Yohe believes so, but it would have to take an enormous offer, from likely a first-round pick and a high-end prospect to maybe a quality NHL player, for him to even look at it unless it was simply a clear win.

The deal was never coming at this year's deadline.