Sportsnet’s Sonny Sachdeva examines 5 potential destinations for Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Bryan Rust and/or Rickard Rakell, and he includes the Detroit Red Wings on his list:
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings’ need for offensive help is so pressing, it’s seemingly begun to cause friction within the organization. At his end-of-season availability, captain Dylan Larkin lamented the fact that his club didn’t add any pieces at the trade deadline, sending a message to GM Steve Yzerman about what’s expected from the group before 2025-26 rolls around.
“We didn’t gain any momentum from the trade deadline, and guys were kind of down about it,” Larkin had said. “So, it’d be nice to add something and bring a little bit of a spark on the ice, and a morale boost as well.”
Yzerman has brought in a couple additions up front, signing veteran James van Riemsdyk and former Winnipeg Jets forward Mason Appleton. But both are depth pieces who don’t figure to significantly alter the club’s approach. A 30-goal threat would do more to move the needle — Rust, a product of Pontiac, Mich., seems a natural fit, and such a homecoming might be easier to stomach for both the winger and the Penguins fanbase. Financially, there would be no issue here, as the Red Wings still have more than $12 million in cap space to work with.
Continued; we’ve talked quite a bit about the Rust/Rakell rumors and the players’ perceived trade values, and I’m iffy on the concept of dropping a top prospect and a first-round pick for guys in their early 30’s (Rust is 33, Rakell 32) with two years remaining on their contracts (Rust earns $5.125 million, Rakell $5 million), but the Red Wings do need to add offense, and there aren’t many established scorers on the marketplace other than free agent Jack Roslovic.
If the Red Wings do anything this summer, they’re going to have to pony up and pay a price for whoever they add on offense and/or defense.