TRADE TALKS HEATING UP AROUND PENGUINS’ RUST AND RAKELL

In the wake of free agency, with most of the top-line players signed, Josh Yohe of The Athletic believes that interest will be heating up around Penguins forwards Brian Rust and Rickard Rakell. Yesterday, Yohe wrote that league sources “expect at least one of the wingers to be dealt this summer”. With the Penguins trying to get younger and retool in Crosby’s tenure, trading one or both of the two wingers to a playoff team could bring in a good return. Rakell and Rust each had over 30 goals last season at a $5 million and $5.125 million cap hit respectively – making them the most experienced and cost-efficient targets on the Pens’ trade block.