Penguins Should Consider Using Rickard Rakell At Center

The season has just started, and the Pittsburgh Penguins have already kicked off their annual tradition of an injured list a mile long. Pittsburgh has suffered several injuries through the preseason and training camp, none more concerning than that of young center Benjamin Kindel, a major contributor last season who logged big minutes as the team’s third-line center. The Penguins have some options to fill in during Kindel’s absence, but one name that doesn’t appear to be in the running (but should be) is forward Rickard Rakell, who filled in at center on several occasions last year with plenty of success.

The case for using Rakell at center is a complicated one, but there are quite a few reasons why it would work, and even more reasons as to why it would be best for the Penguins to do it. One big reason is that Rakell is a legitimate option, and Pittsburgh really doesn’t have a top-six center behind Crosby unless Kindel emerges this season and shows he belongs there. Thomas Novak has solid chemistry with Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov; however, he really isn’t a top-six center, but circumstances have made him into one.

This isn’t to say that Rakell should automatically be placed on the second line, because historically he and Malkin haven’t always played that well together. But with Kindel out, Pittsburgh has once again had a chance to use Rakell in the middle, a position he reportedly loves. Rakell was great last season when he had the opportunity to play center, and continued to provide solid offensive results for Pittsburgh, posting 24 goals and 24 assists in 60 games. Not all those games were at center, but Rakell continued to create high-danger offense, ranking in the 97th percentile among forwards for high-danger scoring-chance rate.

The big reasons to utilize Rakell in the middle (besides filling in for an injury) are plentiful. Pittsburgh could better balance their offense with Rakell playing 3C. That added balance could take pressure off the Penguins’ top six and let Bryan Rust play on Crosby’s wing, where he generally has the most success. This would give Penguins head coach Dan Muse more flexibility, and he could manage Malkin’s load to keep him playing at a high level.

Playing Rakell at center also opens a spot for one of the Penguins’ young wingers to get a look at the bottom six, since they would no longer have to compete with Bryan Rust, who could theoretically play on the third line if Rakell and Nick Robertson stuck on Crosby’s wing.

Finally, this is perhaps the best pitch for Rakell playing center. If the Penguins fall out of contention this year, it could be time to move on from their veterans. Rakell has been a name thrown around in the past, and he is an absolute steal at $5MM per season. If the Penguins were serious about moving him in the future, they would have a much stronger case for a bigger trade package if they traded a second- or third-line center who can also play wing, rather than a top-six winger.

There is certainly a case against moving Rakell to center. Crosby would lose one of his favourite wingers, and the two are phenomenal together. But Crosby has always played well with Rust (and he is hurt at the moment), and the opportunity to work with Robertson gives Pittsburgh the chance to find a young winger for Crosby over the next few seasons, if he works out. However, one of Rakell’s best assets, the ability to find soft areas on the ice and get open for passes from Crosby, would be somewhat neutralized playing away from Sid. On the third line, he would drive the line offensively, which could mean a dip in offensive numbers if he isn’t playing with higher-end talent.

Then there is the faceoff issue. Rakell was terrible at the dot last year, winning just 36% of the draws he took. However, for his career, he is over 44%, which still isn’t good, but it is a much more respectable figure. Rakell could improve in this area with more work in the faceoff circle, but it is not the only data point of concern. Rakell’s underlying numbers weren’t great last year, as his possession numbers dipped (CF% of 49.7 at even strength), and his 5-on-5 xGF% was below 50%, according to Natural Stat Trick.

The Penguins have a lot of injuries to start the year, particularly up front, where they are missing upwards of four NHL forwards depending on the day. Head coach Dan Muse has had to get creative in the past, particularly last season when Crosby and Malkin were out at the same time after the Olympics. The Penguins have a deep group of versatile forwards, with Rakell perhaps the best option to jump into the middle of the ice in the top nine. Time will tell if Muse makes the move.