Rickard Rakell traded to Pittsburgh
by Ethan Genn | Penguins Correspondent | Mon, Mar 21st 5:41pm EDT
Former Anaheim Ducks winger Rickard Rakell has been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a large haul including forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Dominik Simon, a 2022 second-round pick, and prospect goaltender Calle Clang. Rakell, a UFA after this season, carries a cap hit of $3.9M, and Anaheim will retain 35% of it in this deal. Aston-Reese and Simon will also be free-agents this offseason. (Bob McKenzie on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact:
Rakell, 28, is a strong goal-scoring forward who struggles defensively at times, scoring 16 goals and 12 assists in 51 games this season. He will provide a large scoring boost for Pittsburgh as the arms race in the Eastern conference continues. He should certainly be rostered in fantasy leagues and watched with intent. Aston-Reese and Simon are better known for their elite defensive play in the bottom-six, and have 11 and nine points respectively this season. Neither are worth considering in fantasy. Clang, just 19 years old, is having a fine season in the SHL and is not yet with Anaheim. Anaheim begins its rebuild by acquiring very solid bottom-six pieces and a potential replacement for John Gibson. Should Pittsburgh go far in the playoffs, they likely won't mind the high price tag it took to acquire the sniper.
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