Ottawa Senators Predicted to Land Penguins Star

The NHL offseason has slowed down a bit, but there are still moves to be made from a few teams. Every year, there are late offseason moves that tend to heavily impact the playoff race.

One team that could still add is the Ottawa Senators, since they still need another piece for the upcoming season. Ottawa has been linked to a few players this summer, with the front office discussing different deals.

The Senators were mentioned as a possible landing spot for Pittsburgh Penguins star Rickard Rakell by NHL writer Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report. Ottawa could be a solid place for Rakell if the Penguins do trade him.

"The Senators finally played their way back into a playoff spot in 2024-25, earning their first trip to the postseason since their 2016-17 Eastern Conference Finals run.

"The big hang-up might be Ottawa's lack of a first-round pick in 2026 and a weak farm system that is lacking in top prospects. From a hockey standpoint, the Senators are a good match for Rakell. Logistically, they may not have the assets the Penguins would want," wrote Gretz.

Rakell could help boost the Senators' offense, helping the team become even more formidable in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa made a surprising playoff appearance last season, and the team should be going all-in to go after a Stanley Cup title.

The Penguins star put up 35 goals and 35 assists last season for Pittsburgh, and he could massively boost this team. Nobody on the Senators came close to these totals, so this could be a real difference-maker of a trade.

Ottawa is finally back to being relevant in the East, and the front office has wanted to keep adding pieces. Bringing Rakell to town could be the answer, especially with the Penguins reportedly acting as sellers this offseason.