Rumor: Penguins' Rakell Rejected Trade To Blackhawks

There are a whole lot of Pittsburgh Penguins' faithful clamoring for the organization to begin selling off some of its longer-tenured veterans for assets given the team's 6-10-2 start to the 2026-27 season. 

It appears that the Penguins did, in fact, try to make a move. But, according to a former NHL player on one of the most prominent NHL podcasts, the player in question said 'no thanks.'

As revealed by ex-NHL defenseman Keith Yandle on Tuesday's episode of Spittin' Chiclets - the podcast which Yandle co-hosts with Paul Bissonette and Ryan Whitney - the Chicago Blackhawks attempted to acquire forward Rickard Rakell from the Penguins during Pittsburgh's road trip on the West Coast, which is what actually prompted the recall of young forward Rutger McGroarty, per Yandle.

"I heard a rumor that Rakell turned down a trade to go to Chicago, and that's why they brought up - who is the kid they brought up? - [Rutger] McGroarty," Yandle said. 

Rakell, 33, has six goals and 10 points in 18 games this season. He has two seasons, counting this one, left on his six-year contract that pays him $5 million annually and that includes  an eight-team no-trade list. 

Of course, this rumor must be taken with a grain of salt. The McGroarty recall was in response to forward Ville Koivunen being day-to-day with a lower-body injury and the team needing another healthy forward on their road trip, so it's unlikely that a potential Rakell trade to Chicago would have been the reason McGroarty was brought aboard. 

Also, Rakell's eight-team no-trade list was, presumably, already submitted, as his name has been in rumor circles dating back to the summer and beyond. If this was the case, GM and POHO Kyle Dubas probably would not have even entertained the Blackhawks as legitimate contenders to land him no matter what they were willing to give up. 

If the Penguins are open for business, as reported by Elliotte Friedman Saturday, that would make some sense. But Dubas is still at the mercy of no-trade and no-movement clauses with pretty much all of his veteran players except for forward Bryan Rust, who is currently on injured reserve and is expected to miss at least four more weeks.

The rumor, up to this point, has not been substantiated or confirmed by other insiders or sources.

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