Several days after the NHL trade deadline, new information continues to emerge regarding the Montreal Canadiens.

Among these revelations, here’s a big one.

In exchange for their forward Rickard Rakell, who is having an excellent season, let’s admit it, the Penguins were asking for.. hold on to your hat!

The best prospect from the team interested in acquiring Rakell, plus two first-round picks.

You read that correctly.

The Penguins put Rakell on the trade market, but they were clearly not serious about actually completing a deal.

You won’t be surprised to learn that Pittsburgh was “absolutely never” close to finalizing a trade involving Rakell, according to information from Frank Seravalli.

If the Montreal Canadiens had wanted to acquire Rickard Rakell at the trade deadline, it would have cost them Ivan Demidov + 2 first-round picks

When we talk about high prices explaining Kent Hughes’ inaction, here’s a prime example.

You can guess that this was completely ridiculous and never an option for the Habs, but it says a lot about the trade market.

“Seravalli says Pittsburgh’s asking price for Rickard Rakell at the deadline was the top prospect from each team and two first-round picks.”

– NHL Trade Alert

For the Habs, you can be sure that was absolutely out of the question!

 

“To the Penguins:

Ivan Demidov

2025 MTL 1st

2025 CGY 1st

To the Canadiens:

Rickard Rakell

I’d do it.”

– The Habitant, extremely sarcastically.

 

Rakell, 31 years old, has recorded 58 points in 67 games this season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, including 30 goals.