Rickard Rakell Sees Sharp Rise in Value Among Fans, Rising Over 80 Spots In Last Year

The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to be sellers for the most part this off-season, and if that is indeed the case on veterans like Bryan Rust, Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell, then the latest poll conducted by JFresh on social media will be a big help.

After doing so in recent years, JFresh has conducted a poll regarding the top forwards in the National Hockey League, and while there's certainly been some players whose standing has fallen, Rakell is not one of those.

Following a season in which he posted 35 goals and 70 points in 81 games played, Rakell has taken the leap from being ranked 180th in the 2024 poll to now being in the top 100, landing at the No. 99 overall spot.

That ranks Rakell ahead of Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, Ryan O'Reilly, Tyler Toffoli and Elias Lindholm just to name a few, and knowing their trade values, this recent ranking can only be a good thing for the Penguins.

Of course, trades aren't based on the off-season rankings of forwards in the NHL, but it's certainly a good sign to see how Rakell is perceived among the NHL fan base, with Kyle Dubas and the team hoping that a career year can convince a team to give up a haul for the 32-year old.

Ultimately, if Rakell isn't dealt this off-season, the hope is that he can get the Penguins a haul at the deadline, with the former Anaheim Ducks star not likely to remain in Pittsburgh beyond that, so while the poll may not have anything to do with his value, it's another great sign for the Penguins as they look to sell some key veterans.