The Senators finally got over the playoff hump after missing the playoffs the last eight seasons. As of writing this article, they are down three games to none against provincial rival Toronto. While their immediate future looks bleak, the Sens have a bright future with a warhorse in Brady Tkachuk and a young stud, Tim Stützle.
The main weakness the Senators have is defensively, after trading Jakob Chychrun to Washington last summer, they did not adequately replace him. If they want to improve their defense, then Pittsburgh is not the place to go shopping. The Pens were dreadful on defense this year and have no real defensive pieces that Ottawa would want. However, that is not Ottawa's only weakness.
Rickard Rakell
The Senators have $18 million in cap space, which they will likely use to address their lack of depth scoring. The Pens have a piece that may tickle their fancy, Rickard Rakell. The Swedish winger just had his best statistical season, accumulating 70 points, split evenly 35 and 35 goals and assists, in 81 games played. If he were on the Sens this year, Rakell would have been their second-leading scorer and most prolific goal scorer.
Why would the Senators do this?
The Senators finally reached the playoffs and have a new owner, are might be willing to push the chips in to make a run. Tkachuk, Stützle, Dylan Cozens, and Jake Sanderson are under contract for at least three years; the Senators' window is now. Rakell is also under contract until 2028 with a price tag of $5 million a year, considering the rising cap, this is a bargain for a 70-point scorer.
Why would the Penguins do this?
On the surface, trading your leading scorer when you are trying to remain competitive sounds insane. However, this is an opportunity for the Penguins to build for the future. If the Penguins are going through a mini-rebuild, Rakell does them no good; it is better to trade him away while his value is at its highest and build for the future.
Potential trade offers
Rickard Rakell for two first-round picks (2025 and 2026)
The Senators are going to be a staple in the playoffs for the foreseeable future, and picks in the mid-to-high twenties are not going to benefit them for several years. For the Penguins, having two (maybe three) firsts in this draft and three (maybe two) in the draft next year will get the rebuild off to a great start. Or the GM Kyle Dubas can use the extra firsts in potential trades.
Rickard Rakell for a first-round pick (2025) and Fabian Zetterlund
The same logic applies to the draft pick, but Dubas should consider trading for Zetterlund. He is a twenty-five-year-old winger who is an RFA this offseason, who has struggled at times, but that is not entirely on him. Before playing for the Sens, he was a member of the Sharks, who were bad when he was there. In Pittsburgh he will get to play with Crosby and Malkin and have more opportunities to play. He is a young player worth taking a chance on.