Rickard Rakell Traded to Penguins; Ducks Get 2nd-Round Draft Pick, More

The Anaheim Ducks have traded forward Rickard Rakell to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forwards, goaltender Calle Clang, and a second-round draft pick in 2022, it was announced Monday.

The Boston Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights were both rumored to be interested in the veteran.

Rakell is in the final year of a six-year, $22.8 million deal and was among the top trade candidates before the deadline. The 28-year-old is in the midst of a bounce-back season after a down 2020-21 season and has 16 goals and 12 assists in 51 games.

Rakell spent his entire 10-year career with the Ducks after being selected 30th overall in the 2011 draft. He had 154 goals and 185 assists.

The Swedish winger will provide some much-needed depth scoring for the team that is on the verge of making the Stanley Cup playoffs. Pittsburgh is third in the Metropolitan Division with a 38-16-9 record.

In the last decade, the Pens have made the playoffs every year and won the Stanley Cup three times.

The Ducks are sixth in the Pacific Division with a 27-26-11 record and will likely miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season. The fourth move at the deadline was the trading of Rakell.

Josh Manson was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, as was Hampus Lindholm to the Bruins, and Nicolas Deslauriers to the Minnesota Wild.