It was a debate for much of last year, but the Pittsburgh Penguins should role with Rickard Rakell on the first line.

In his first full season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Rickard Rakell showed great promise as a first line winger alongside Sidney Crosby.

Despite having all of the talent, Rakell was often placed on the Penguins’ second line with Evgeni Malkin as his center.

While that’s not a demotion in any way, shape, or form, it often did mean that Bryan Rust was getting more time on the top line.

Rust playing on the first line also isn’t a bad thing, but heading into the 2023-24 season, it might be time for Rakell to play in that spot on a consistent basis.

Rakell played in all 82 games last season and put up 60 points (28G-32A), good for fourth on the team in scoring and 14 points ahead of Rust.

It was clear Rust struggled to produce in 2022-23, but his talents might be better served as a depth option this upcoming season.

Plunking Rust to the third line would open up that first line right wing position and Rakell is the perfect solution.

No matter where Rakell goes in the lineup he succeeds, and with Jake Guentzel missing the start of the new season, the Penguins will need all the fire power they can get up top.

That does leave a spot on the second line open and that is exactly where things can get interesting.

There will be plenty of roster battles during training camp, and who fills in best next to Malkin should be a big one.

Alex Nylander should be a shoe in to fill in at any position given, while a prospect like Valtteri Puustinen might surprise many during camp.

It’ll be up to Rust to determine where he belongs in the lineup, but it won’t be easy taking that first line positon from Rakell.

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