Pittsburgh Penguins’ 3 Trade Candidates Entering 2026-27 – The Hockey Writers – Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins do not have to trade a veteran just because the roster is changing. That would be too simple, and it would ignore the fact that Sidney Crosby is still good enough to make short-term competitiveness matter. However, the Penguins also cannot pretend the roster is finished.

President of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas has spent the offseason adding options, creating competition and keeping flexibility available. Pittsburgh has more forwards than clean lineup spots, a crowded right side on defense, and enough older players that the organization still has to think carefully about what comes next. That does not mean a trade is guaranteed, but it does make certain names worth watching.

The Penguins’ current forward depth chart already shows how tight the roster has become after adding players like Nicholas Robertson, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Hendrix Lapierre. If Dubas wants to create more room for younger players or turn veteran value into future assets, these three players stand out as the most logical trade candidates entering the 2026-27 season.

Rickard Rakell

Rickard Rakell is probably the cleanest trade candidate on the roster because he still has value, still fits what contenders usually want, and does not carry the same complications as some of Pittsburgh’s other veterans.

Rakell is signed through 2027-28 at a reasonable $5 million cap hit, which makes him more than a pure rental but not impossible for another team to absorb. He also remains productive enough to help a playoff team. His 24 goals, 24 assists and 48 points in 60 games last season showed he can still provide top-six or strong middle-six offense when healthy.

That is why he makes sense as a trade chip. Rakell is not someone Pittsburgh needs to rush out the door, especially because he can still help Crosby and the current lineup. But if the Penguins are trying to clear space for Robertson, Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen or another younger forward, Rakell is one of the few veterans who could bring back something useful.

The market matters, though. A recent Penguins trade-value discussion made the important point that wingers in their 30s usually do not bring franchise-changing returns unless they are true stars. Rakell can help a contender, but Pittsburgh should not expect him to reset the organization by himself.

That is the balance. Rakell is useful enough to keep, but valuable enough to move if the right offer appears.

Bryan Rust

Bryan Rust is the more emotional name because of what he has meant to Pittsburgh. He has been part of Stanley Cup runs, played with Crosby for years, and remained one of the Penguins’ most trusted wingers. Trading him would not be a small message.

That is also why he would have value.

Rust is signed through 2027-28 with a $5.125 million cap hit, and his production still justifies real interest. He had 29 goals and 65 points last season, which is not the profile of a washed-up veteran. He can score, kill penalties, play in different situations, and has playoff experience contending teams usually value.

The case for keeping him is easy. Crosby still needs reliable wingers, and Rust remains one of the safest fits on the roster. If Pittsburgh believes it can stay in the playoff mix, moving Rust could make the team worse in the short term and create a hole that is harder to fill than it looks.

The case for moving him is just as real. Rust is 34, has two seasons left on his deal and may never have more trade value than he does right now. If the Penguins wait too long, the contract could become less attractive and the return could shrink. That is the danger of holding every veteran until the obvious trade window has passed.

Pittsburgh’s need for a bigger roster swing is still part of the larger conversation. Rust could be included in that kind of thinking if Dubas decides the Penguins need to create room, add assets, or shift more responsibility toward younger forwards.

That does not make Rust a player Pittsburgh should actively shop at any price. It makes him a player the front office should be willing to discuss if a contender gets aggressive.

Erik Karlsson

Erik Karlsson is the biggest and most complicated name on this list.

Karlsson can still produce. His 15 goals and 66 points last season were strong numbers for a defenseman, and his offensive talent remains obvious. The problem is not whether he can help a team. The problem is contract size, roster fit, and whether Pittsburgh wants to keep building around an older, expensive right-shot defenseman.

Karlsson is entering the final season of his deal with an $11.5 million cap hit before retained salary, and Pittsburgh’s actual number is still large enough to shape the roster. That matters because the Penguins already have Kris Letang, Kaedan Korczak, and Trevor van Riemsdyk on the right side. Pittsburgh’s blue line has become crowded in one area and uncertain in another, which makes Karlsson’s future worth watching.

The benefit of exploring a Karlsson trade is obvious. Moving him would create more flexibility, simplify the right side, and give the Penguins a cleaner path to reshape the defense. It could also help Pittsburgh avoid spending a now-84-game season trying to make Karlsson and Letang fit in ways that do not always maximize either player.

The difficulty is just as obvious. Karlsson’s contract is large, his role is specific, and his value depends on finding a team that wants a high-end offensive defenseman at that number. That is not impossible, especially with the salary cap rising and his production still strong. It is just not simple.

That is why Karlsson is a trade candidate, not a trade prediction. If the right team wants offense from the blue line, the Penguins should listen. If the market is weak, forcing a move would make no sense.

Penguins Have to Balance Present and Future

The Penguins’ trade candidates all represent the same larger problem. Pittsburgh still wants to compete, but the roster is shifting whether the organization says it directly or not.

Rakell can still score. Rust can still help Crosby. Karlsson can still drive offense from the back end. Moving any of them would come with short-term consequences, and Dubas cannot ignore that while Crosby is still playing at a high level.

But the Penguins also have young players who need opportunity. McGroarty’s crowded NHL path and Koivunen’s uncertain role both show how difficult it can be to create space when the veteran group remains intact. Robertson’s new deal adds another forward who needs a real role.

That is why this season could force decisions. If Pittsburgh starts this season well, Dubas may keep the veterans together and try to push for a playoff spot. If the Penguins stumble or the young forwards demand more minutes, the trade conversation gets louder.

Either way, Rakell, Rust, and Karlsson are the three names to watch. None has to be moved immediately. All three could still help Pittsburgh.

But if the Penguins are serious about reshaping the roster, these are the kinds of decisions Dubas eventually has to make.