It’s no secret that Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson is actively scouring the NHL trade market for more offensive support.

On Oct. 27, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli first reported that Davidson is looking for “shoot-first, scoring wingers with size” on Chicago Sports Network’s pregame show. Since then, TSN’s Chris Johnston and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman have offered similar updates, suggesting Davidson remains on the hunt to make a trade and give captain Connor Bedard some help.

One potential Blackhawks trade target mentioned recently here at Chicago Hockey Now is Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell. When Seravalli joined CHSN and reported Davidson’s trade desires, the site listed Rakell as a possible candidate.

With the Penguins off to a 6-10-2 start, sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference standings, the end of a 20-year competitive run might have finally arrived. Recent reports suggest Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas is looking to unload veterans from his roster, and the trades could come quickly.

Rakell is one of those vets, listed at No. 10 on Johnston’s latest trade board 3.0 for The Athletic. The 33-year-old’s name has popped up in trade rumors regularly in recent years, despite remaining a consistent goal scorer into his early 30s.

The everlasting rumors could become a reality in the coming days, and the Blackhawks make sense as a trade partner.

In three of the last four seasons, Rakell has scored at least 24 goals, including a career-best 35 in 2024-25 for Pittsburgh. He started slowly this year, with no goals and two assists through nine games, but has picked it up as of late. Rakell has found the back of the net in six of his last nine outings, with eight points during that stretch.

Rakell is signed through 2027-28 with a $5 million cap hit, so there isn’t much of a long-term risk in taking on his contract. Davidson wouldn’t have to make a serious commitment to Rakell, as he would for someone like Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett, another potential trade candidate.

While Rakell wouldn’t single-handedly turn the tide in Chicago, the Blackhawks have to start somewhere, and the Swedish winger fits their needs. Rakell is a capable middle-six offensive producer who likes to shoot the puck and plays a responsible two-way game. He’s also a 15-year veteran with decent size at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Davidson has already phoned Dubas about Rakell and the asking price, and some recent speculation suggests the Blackhawks indeed made an offer. However, Davidson didn’t get the answer he was looking for, but apparently, not from Dubas, but from Rakell.

On Tuesday’s episode of Spittin’ Chiclets, former NHL defenseman Keith Yandle said he heard a rumor that Rakell turned down a trade to Chicago, and Rutger McGroarty was recalled from the AHL in case the deal went through. Rakell’s contract carries an eight-team no-trade list, and if the rumors are true, the Blackhawks are on it.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski later added some context to the rumor, saying that Dubas presumably already knows the eight teams on Rakell’s no-trade list. The Penguins recalled McGroarty because Ville Koivunen was banged up, not to replace Rakell. Additionally, if a deal were in the works, Rakell likely wouldn’t have played over the weekend.

The rumor could be accurate, but Kingerski pointed out some flaws with the baseline.

Another Option in Pittsburgh?

While Rakell’s no-trade protection could keep him out of Chicago, another Penguins veteran forward has no control over his destiny. Two-time Stanley Cup champion and Sidney Crosby‘s longtime linemate Bryan Rust could be traded soon, too, but his contract doesn’t have a no-trade or no-movement clause. Rust holds no veto power.

The 33-year-old winger doesn’t have the size that Davidson is searching for, but otherwise, Rust is the kind of reliable, gritty goal-scorer the Blackhawks could use. His veteran leadership and experience, with 717 career regular-season games and 85 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances, would also be valuable to Chicago’s young core in the midst of a tumultuous season.

Rust is coming off his two best offensive NHL seasons, producing at least 29 goals and 65 points in 2024-25 and 2025-26, which is rather impressive at his age. He’s actually gotten better into his early 30s.

With a more-than-reasonable $5.125 million cap hit on a contract that expires in 2028, Rust, much like Rakell, wouldn’t be a burden on the Blackhawks’ books. Rust would be a wise addition, but there’s just one problem. He’s currently on injured reserve with a lower-body ailment and won’t be reevaluated until early December.

Perhaps Rust’s injury and age could lower his trade value, but with many expected suitors, he’ll likely cost a pretty penny, regardless.

Kingerski recently offered realistic trade values for Pittsburgh’s veteran trade chips and compared Rust’s potential return to what the Ottawa Senators received in exchange for Claude Giroux in 2022. He noted Rust’s value might be slightly lower than Giroux’s.

Ottawa netted Owen Tippett, a conditional first-round pick, and a third-rounder from Florida for Giroux. Kingerski believes Rust could command a late first-rounder and a lesser prospect, or a quality young player and a second-round pick.

Davidson has the assets to match that value, with two late first-round picks in the 2027 NHL Draft from Florida and Edmonton. The Blackhawks also have their own second-round pick and another from Vancouver.

But with the Hawks desperately needing help right now, and Rust possibly remaining out until mid-to-late December, the timing doesn’t feel right to finalize a trade. Perhaps Davidson could look Rust’s way once he returns later this season.