Elliotte Friedman just reported that Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has a line for Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, and he'll deal if a team reaches it.
Pittsburgh has given him every reason to listen. The Penguins are 6-10-2, sit 29th in the NHL and are seven points back of third place in the Metropolitan Division after a 5-2 loss in Anaheim on Sunday.
Friedman relayed the message from Dubas: meet his line and he will make the deal.
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The post names no suitor and no price, so what the line looks like is anyone's guess. What changes is the tone. Dubas isn't just listening, he's telling the market what it takes.
On Saturday, we reported Elliotte Friedman's Penguins trade timeline, with Friedman saying sell-off deals could come quickly as the losses pile up.
Rakell is a 33-year-old center with 6 goals and 4 assists in 18 games this season, including a short-handed goal. He is healthy, according to the latest injury report.
Rust, 34, has 3 goals and 2 assists in just 7 games. He is listed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and is expected to be out until at least Dec. 5.
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- |
| Rickard Rakell | 18 | 6 | 4 | 10 | -2 |
| Bryan Rust | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -7 |
Friedman has also noted that Pittsburgh wants to make moves but has several players with no-move or no-trade clauses, which limits who Dubas can actually shop.
Who can Pittsburgh actually move?
David Pagnotta laid out the list: Rust with no trade protection, Rakell, and Erik Karlsson, who has a full no-movement clause but a real desire to chase a Stanley Cup.
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Karlsson is the name that would move the needle for a contender. The 36-year-old defenseman has 18 points in 18 games, and the decision would be entirely his.
Rakell is the easier sell. A healthy center with a short-handed goal can slot into a contender's middle six tomorrow, while Rust can't play until at least Dec. 5. Dubas will have a hard time getting full value for a winger who is sitting on IR.
The Penguins are at San Jose on Wednesday against a Sharks team that won its last game in a shootout.
Quick hits
OTTAWA SENATORS: The Senators have recalled goalie Jackson Parsons from Belleville on gameday, hours before the Capitals visit. A roster update this late in the day is worth watching.
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WINNIPEG JETS: James Nichols reports that Jake Allen is expected to start for the Devils in Winnipeg tonight, with Connor Hellebuyck sitting. That's a twist nobody saw coming.
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FLORIDA PANTHERS: Tom Wilson will not be suspended for his boarding hit on Sandis Vilmanis. The Panthers beat has a clear opinion on it, and you can guess which way it leans.
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PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: A day after the win in Vancouver, the Matvei Michkov and Nick Seeler bench clash is still dividing Philadelphia's beat writers this morning.
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This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Elliotte Friedman says Penguins deals could come fast
