The Los Angeles Kings have a lot of the pieces in place to build off their 105-point season in 2024-25.
Under new general manager Ken Holland, who was hired in May to replace Rob Blake, the Kings added some much-needed depth, an area that was exposed in the first-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers. They already boast leadership down the middle, quality at the blue line and a confident duo in net, backed by a goalie pipeline stocked with upside.
But in order to take another step forward, one thing appears clear: the Kings are still short a top-six finisher who can turn chances into goals.
Pittsburgh Penguins right winger Rickard Rakell might be exactly what they need. And best of all, he is reportedly available.
35-Goal Scorer Rickard Rakell Would Bring Much-Needed Offense to LA
Fresh off a 70-point season — his best offensive output since 2017–18 — Rakell has emerged as one of the most intriguing trade chips on the market. The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to retool around youth, and Rakell’s $5 million cap hit through 2026 makes him a prime candidate to be moved.
That’s where L.A. comes in. In a deal proposed by Heavy.com, the Kings would send former first-rounder Alex Turcotte, cap-clearing defenseman Kyle Burroughs, and one of the team’s surplus goalie prospects to Pittsburgh for the 32-year-old Rakell. It’s a transaction that could be a win-win, fueling the Kings’ 2025–26 push while helping the Penguins reset for the future.
For Los Angeles, the allure is obvious. Rakell doesn’t just fill a hole — he elevates a group.
Rakell’s 35 goals would have tied Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala for the team lead last season, and he would have been second in overall scoring behind Kempe’s 73. Rakell thrived alongside skilled centers in Pittsburgh and could do the same in L.A., whether it’s next to Anze Kopitar or Quinton Byfield.
Rakell’s ability to drive play offensively while seamlessly complementing any linemate makes him exactly the kind of player the Kings should be targeting. As noted by Sonny Sachdeva of Sportsnet, Rakell, who was a first-round pick by the Anaheim Ducks in 2011, would give Los Angeles a consistent offensive presence.
“The Kings simply need more reliable scorers to get pucks over the line, the club’s offence ranking middle-of-the-pack last season,” Sachdeva wrote. “Rakell seems a potential fit on that front, the right-handed winger able to bring some finesse, potentially partner with fellow Swede Adrian Kempe, and perhaps find the consistency he showed last time he played in California.”
Perhaps more importantly, Rakell brings playoff seasoning to a team that’s still learning how to win in spring. He’s logged 48 postseason games across his career and has contributed in high-leverage minutes. The Kings have been building toward a breakout, but their scoring has dried up when it matters most. Rakell, who does have a limited no-trade clause in his contract, doesn’t need to carry the offense, he just needs to complement it, and his game fits perfectly in that role.
Trading Rickard Rakell Could Send No. 5 Overall Draft Pick Alex Turcotte to Pittsburgh
On the Penguins’ end, this is about timing. They’re not in a full rebuild, but they’re clearly shifting their focus to younger assets. Turcotte, still just 24, hasn’t broken through in L.A. but is coming off his first full season at the NHL level. A fresh start in Pittsburgh — with a clearer path to top-nine minutes — could unlock the two-way potential that made him the fifth overall pick back in 2019.
Burroughs is a depth piece, but his $1.1M salary helps offset Rakell’s cap hit. And the goalie prospect — whether it’s Carter George, Hampton Slukynsky, or Erik Portillo — fills an urgent need in Pittsburgh’s system. Or maybe Petteri Rimpinen, coming off an outstanding year when he earned top goalie honors at the World Juniors, would be of interest to the Penguins, where top-end netminders are in short supply.
On paper, it’s a hockey trade in the best sense: needs aligning, timelines diverging, and both teams addressing weaknesses in one clean swing.
If the Kings want to maximize their window now, Rakell makes sense. He scores. He plays with edge. And he’s done it when it counts. As Los Angeles continues to battle Las Vegas and Edmonton for the top spot in the Pacific Division, that kind of addition could be the difference between another early exit and a run that finally lives up to the roster.
Kings Trade Pitch Lands Perfect Piece to Boost Offense, Fortify Playoff Push