Why the Penguins Might Be Forced to Trade Two of Their Most Reliable Scorers

The Pittsburgh Penguins surprised just about everyone by sneaking into the 2025-26 playoffs, but that first-round exit to the Philadelphia Flyers left a bitter taste. Now general manager Kyle Dubas faces a familiar problem: how to stay competitive while Sidney Crosby is still elite, without mortgaging the future again.

The answer, according to recently surfaced speculation, might involve moving two veteran forwards who have been pillars of the team’s recent success.

The Athletic’s Josh Yohe recently laid out a tiered list of Penguins trade candidates, and the category labeled “it might be time” included Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. That phrasing is notable coming from a reporter who covers the team closely.

Rakell’s Value vs. Age

Rakell, now 33, is coming off another strong season — 24 goals in just 60 games, marking his fourth 20-goal campaign in the last five years. But with two years left on a deal that carries a $5 million cap hit, he represents a tricky balance. Yohe wrote that for the right price, Rakell is available, but the Penguins won’t give him away cheaply. The logic: contenders need scoring, and Rakell’s production could fetch a young player who fits Pittsburgh’s longer timeline.

Dubas has shown he’s willing to move almost anyone. He’s already traded Jake Guentzel and watched familiar faces leave. Rakell appears next in line if an offer materializes.

Rust: Beloved but Potentially Expendable

Bryan Rust’s situation is similar, though more emotionally complicated. Yohe described Rust as one of the most beloved teammates in franchise history — a player who reliably delivers 25-30 goals per season. Since the 2019-20 season, Rust has hit 20 goals every year and posted 50-plus points in five of seven seasons. That kind of consistency is hard to replace.

But here’s the thing: contending teams have wanted Rust for years. According to Yohe, Dubas doesn’t want to trade him, but if a team gets desperate enough to offer a significant package, the Penguins will pull the trigger. The market, Yohe noted, is not great right now, but one aggressive bid could change everything.

The Bigger Picture

Losing two 20-plus goal scorers is not ideal for a team trying to make one more run with Crosby and Evgeni Malkin — who is entering the final year of his contract. But the Penguins need to think beyond this season. They want impactful younger players, and veterans like Rakell and Rust are the most logical chips to cash in.

Neither player has been formally placed on the trade block, and the team hasn’t confirmed any plans to move them. But the speculation is loud enough that fans should start preparing for a summer of tough decisions.

For the Penguins, the clock is ticking — both on their current window and on the trade value of two players who have given them everything.