NHL RumorsNHL RumorsNHL Rumors
  • Rumors
  • NHL Trades
    • 2024-25 NHL Trade Tracker
    • Trade Articles
    • 2023-24 NHL Trade Tracker
  • Video
  • Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Hockey Club
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Contact
  • FAQ
Font ResizerAa
NHL RumorsNHL Rumors
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
NHL RumorsNHL Trade Deadline

NHL Trade Deadline Fallout: Devils Were Paying a Premium for Rickard Rakell

Jim Biringer 03/16/2025
4 Min Read
The NHL Trade Deadline is eight days old and more things are emerging as the Devils were going to have to pay high price for Rickard Rakell.
Mar 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell (67) moves the puck against New Jersey Devils center Cody Glass (12) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
SHARE

Entering the NHL Trade Deadline, several teams, like the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils, were looking for goal-scoring as they targeted Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell. The Devils, especially, given their woes all season, have not been able to replace Tyler Toffoli‘s production. Toffoli is now in San Jose, and the Devils did not address that area of need in the offseason.

NHL Trade Deadline: Los Angeles Kings Had Interest Brock Boeser and Richard Rakell

Before the March 7th NHL Trade Deadline, Devils President and GM Tom Fitzgerald sought to help his top six by adding a goal scorer. There were reports they had interest in Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks along with Mikko Rantanen of the Carolina Hurricanes. Both players were going to cost the Devils a premium.

In a recent episode of @FullPressNHL Podcast… @chriswassel and I confirm the asking price for Rakell at the deadline and how the Devils would have to pay the divisional premium to get him.

Watch, Like, Subscribe: https://t.co/ILMvplYIi1 #njdevils #letsgopens https://t.co/EdtXCAsPCI pic.twitter.com/6FTbeogN57

— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) March 15, 2025

In addition to those two, the Devils even tried to trade for Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, as Chris Wassel of NHLRumors.com stated on the Full Press Hockey Podcast, the asking price was too high for them to make the trade.

NHL Rumors: New Jersey Devils, and the St. Louis Blues

Chris Wassel: “The other guy that Devils were in on, and this is where the old divisional premium comes in and it got ridiculous, was Rickard Rakell. Pittsburgh wanted to basically what amounted to be a first-round pick and a conditional first for Rakell plus a low-end prospect.”

Jim Biringer: “That’s a lot for Rickard Rakell.”

Wassel: “And look, I get this. Rakell has been able to rejuvenate his career after a lot of people thought it was done due to injuries, right? Was he their most valuable trade chip? Oh, absolutely. There’s not even a discussion there. Were you going to get what you wanted for him?”

Biringer: “No.”

Wassel: “No. So, Pittsburgh quickly figured out that wasn’t going to happen. You weren’t going to get the moon and star treatment, and they backed off.”

NHL Rumors: Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Buffalo Sabres

The report above confirms what  Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported on the DFO Rundown Podcast: The Penguins were asking for two first-round picks and the team’s top prospect in exchange for Rickard Rakell. Therefore, it did not make sense for the Devils to make that trade with the Penguins. So it makes sense the Devils made the depth they did. 

Now, it makes sense that Pittsburgh was asking that much of him. If they traded him to New Jersey, they would see him there for three more seasons. But not many teams could pay that price. The Los Angeles Kings looked at him but went in another direction.

It feels like Penguins GM Kyle Dubas was asking for more for Rakell than he was for Jake Guentzel last season. But there were no takers. Rakell would have been a good piece for any team’s top six at the NHL Trade Deadline, as he is now up to 31 goals on the season.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s new, and we’re just getting started. Rumor roundups and hot topics from around the league. 

 

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:New Jersey DevilsPittsburgh PenguinsRickard Rakell

Offer Sheet Compensation

<$1.54M no comp
$1.54M – $2.34M: 3rd
$2.34M – $4.68M: 2nd
$4.68M – $7.02M: 1st, 3rd
$7.02M – $9.36M: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
$9.36M – $11.7M: 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
$11.7M+: 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st,

2024-25 Critical Dates

June 1-7: NHL Scouting Combine (Buffalo, NY)
June 20th: Last possible day for the Stanley Cup Final
June 27th-28th: 2025 NHL Draft
July 1st: Start of free agency

NHL Rumors to your inbox.

NHLrumors Logo

Categories

  • Rumors

Information

  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking NHL News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.