Sportsnet’s latest in a series of stories projecting logical destinations for NHL trade targets lists the Detroit Red Wings as one of five possibilities for Pittsburgh forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche and the Buffalo Sabres are the other four possible destinations.
The two players are linked to Detroit because the Red Wings are looking for more scoring. Michigan native Rust scored 31 goals last season, while Swede Rakell netted 35.
“Neither forward figures to be a long-term solution for clubs hoping to bolster their offensive groups, each already over 30 and likely to slow down over the next few seasons,” Sportsnet’s Sonny Sachdeva wrote. “But both proved just last season that they can still hang, Rakell coming off a career-best 70-point season and Rust coming off a career-best 65-point season — both accomplished while playing for a woeful Penguins squad.”
After every home game, Bryan Rust meets with young people through @FriendsStutter, offering support, sharing his story, and building community.
His impact has reached beyond Pittsburgh, inspiring others, like @AnaheimDucks‘ Leo Carlsson, to do the same. https://t.co/ENVI6Dvcht
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 17, 2025
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Red Wings Extra
The Red Wings have talked about wanting to improve their team toughness, but what that means isn’t easy to define. In general terms it means the Red Wings want to be harder to play against, and not to have their level of play made less effective by physical play. It isn’t always about generating more hits, although two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida led the NHL with 29.5 hits per game. The Red Wings rank 24th in the league at 18.9 hits per game. Some of the teams that ranked below Detroit in hits: Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers.
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