The Penguins might not be done shaking things up after Friday’s big trade with Vancouver.
Despite Pittsburgh’s tough season, forwards Rickard Rakell and Michael Bunting have caught the eye of several NHL teams looking to make deals before the trade deadline.
The Pens just shipped defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor to the Canucks, signaling they’re open for business. That move brought in some valuable draft picks – and it might not be their last deal.
Teams are especially interested in Rakell and Bunting, who’ve been bright spots in an otherwise disappointing year for Pittsburgh. Both forwards are putting up solid numbers even as the team struggles to find its footing.
But there’s a catch: The Penguins aren’t exactly eager to let either player go.
"There’s been significant interest in both players," reports insider David Pagnotta. "But Pittsburgh’s going to need a pretty compelling offer to move either one."
The team’s willingness to trade Pettersson shows they’re serious about making changes. But with Rakell and Bunting performing well, they’ll likely think twice before shipping out two of their most productive forwards.
The next few weeks could get interesting in Pittsburgh as more teams come calling.
