Penguins Keeping Both Rakell & Rust This Summer Isn't Likely

The Pittsburgh Penguins are getting younger and changing their roster with multiple trade candidates still probable to move this offseason.

Josh Yohe said that "Kyle Dubas isn't selling (Rickard) Rakell and (Bryan) Rust for peanuts. Still, I keep going back to what several team sources have told me, Dubas wants to go young next season."

The veterans on the team who are trade candidates include Rakell, Rust, and Erik Karlsson. The forwards have term on their contracts and they are signed at great AAVs for what they continuously put out for the team. Rickard had 35 goals and 70 points last season while Rust finished with 31 goals and 65 points in 71 games.

Yohe also said that "they could both be on the opening night roster, of course, but I'd be surprised if that happens." There are absolutely many teams who have thrown their hat in the mix for one of the two players, especially teams that are competitive as it makes more sense.

A team like the Detroit Red Wings are desperate to upgrade as they have done next to nothing, while the Carolina Hurricanes are one of the league's top contenders for the Stanley Cup and have cap space to spend with assets to move.

Rakell has three more years at $5 million AAV and Rust has three more years at $5.125 million AAV. The Penguins are less likely to retain on either deal as they'd lose a retention spot that is more needed with another player or players in the future if they did so for three years. Both have done great in Pittsburgh and account for a lot of offense. Wherever they go, a haul is going to be coming back to the Penguins.

Photo credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images