Bruins trade rumors: Is Rickard Rakell the answer to Boston’s slumping 2nd line?

Editor’s Note: Chris actually wrote this post more than a week ago, but the next day, Rakell got injured. He’s getting closer to a return now, so...let’s run it!

Also, we put up a Palmieri post by Chris yesterday morning, so don't be surprised if Rakell is dealt elsewhere by Thursday night. The Chowder curse.

Is this the year that Bruins management finally fills the hole that has seemed to exist on David Krejci’s right wing for centuries?

While moves have been unsuccessfully made to try to address this weakness in the past, the Bruins have been searching for a bonafide right winger ever since Loui Eriksson put up 30 goals in the 2015-2016 season.

And while the latest attempt to add a second-line right wing from Anaheim, in Ondrej Kase hasn't worked to date, there may just be another option on the Ducks who could finally bring some much needed secondary scoring to the Boston Bruins: Rickard Rakell.

27-year-old Rickard Rakell was drafted in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (30th overall) and since his arrival has scored 304 points (135 goals & 169 assists) in 481 games.

Over the past 5 seasons, Rakell has averaged 24 goals a year, and while he only has 6 goals so far this season, it's certainly not from a lack of trying.

Rakell has put up 107 shots, 17th most in the NHL, and has had 117 scoring chances, good for 4th most in the league at the time of his recent injury.

Unfortunately, Rakell has been snake-bitten thus far with a shooting percentage of just 6.5%; not great for a guy who typically scores on 11% of his shots. But before writing off Rakell, consider these points:

• Rakell was playing with Maxime Comtois and Isac Lundestrom on the Ducks' top line (no offense to those guys, but they're not exactly All Stars)
• He’s not on the Ducks top PP unit
• The majority of his 21 points on the season came in the last 3 weeks he played before getting injured.

As he’s commonly known in Anaheim, ‘Rick Rak's’ statistics do not tell the full story of who he is as a player.

Rakell has got some serious flash to his game (as can be seen below), is a solid defender, and for an average-sized player, he’s not afraid to throw his body around (48 hits on the season which would be 3rd most on the Bruins).

Contract-wise, Rakell still has a pretty team-friendly contract, with one year remaining after this season at about $3.7 million and some change, meaning the pro-rated amount at the deadline should be a number the Bruins can squeeze under the salary cap.

In addition, with the Ducks moving into full-blown rebuild mode, the Ducks could be open to moving Rakell. Trading Rakell would easily provide the best return on the roster for the franchise, and would also free up ice time for the younger players.

The kicker here (and with all deadline moves) is what it would cost the Bruins to acquire Rickard Rakell.

While the deal the Islanders made yesterday to acquire Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac may have been for a lower-than-expected price, Rakell is younger than Palmieri and has term left.

Like Kase a year ago, Rakell could cost the Bruins a first-round pick and a young prospect (e.g. Urho Vaakanainen).

As we’re all aware, the last few attempts to secure a 2RW have not panned out for the Bruins, and have been costly for Boston’s long-term future.

Management, knowing their team has some significant weaknesses, will need to decide if going for it by bringing in a player of Rakell’s stature is really worth it.