Examining Penguins Trade Candidates
Jason Shetler
It’s been a rough beginning to the 2026-27 season for the Pittsburgh Penguins - to put it mildly.
Following a very lackluster 6-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, the Penguins are currently 5-9-2, as their 12 points are tied for the fewest in the Eastern Conference, along with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Pittsburgh has allowed five or more goals in half their games to this point, while they have been putrid on the road, with a record of 1-6-1.
Penguins’ president of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas, has made it no secret that he would like to move off some veteran forwards, given the logjam they have.
On the other side, the blue line is a major weakness.
So which players might find themselves traded at some point this season? I’ve examined the list of candidates.
Bryan Rust: Over the past decade, Bryan Rust has been an extremely vital piece for the Penguins.
Currently on injured reserve, with a lower-body injury, Rust is perhaps a winger a team would look to acquire at the trade deadline. While it seems unlikely, a contender could make the Penguins a tempting offer for Rust.
Erik Karlsson: Kyle Dubas made a big splash in the summer of 2023, when he traded for Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks, as part of a blockbuster three-team deal.
Last season was by far Karlsson’s most productive in a Penguins sweater; scoring 15 goals and registering a +8.
Karlsson is in the final year of an eight-year contract, which carries an average annual of $11.5 million.
The 36-year-old’s deal includes a no-movement clause.
Provided the Penguins retain a large majority of Karlsson’s remaining money, it’s possible that he could waive his no-trade, to help facilitate a move, especially if the team is in definite seller mode.
Justin Brazeau: In his first season with Pittsburgh in 2025-26, Justin Brazeau compiled 17 goals. However, he scored just two in the final 22 regular season games, and was a healthy scratch, for much of the playoffs.
Brazeau began the season on IR, as he was recovering from an injury to his right leg. He returned to the Penguins’ lineup recently.
Set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, Brazeau is owed only $1.5 million - a bargain for a team in a search of a decent, veteran forward on the bottom six.
Rickard Rakell: At the 2022 trade deadline, the Penguins acquired Rickard Rakell from the Anaheim Ducks, in what was objectively the best move by former general manager, Ron Hextall.
Rakell’s best season with Pittsburgh came in 2024-25, where he put up a career-high 35 goals.
The current deal for Rakell is an AAV of $5 million. He could attract a contender, given that he’s signed through 2027-28.
Sam Girard: For parts of nine seasons in Colorado, Sam Girard established himself as a key cog of the Avalanche’s defensive squad, and a member of the 2022 Stanley Cup winning Avs.
On February 24th, 2026, the Avalanche dealt Girard and a 2028 second round draft pick to the Penguins, in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak, who Dubas had obtained just two months prior from the Edmonton Oilers, as part of the Tristan Jarry trade.
A deal set to expire after 2026-27, Girard has a $5 million AAV.
Should the Pens attempt to get younger on defense, then a Girard trade would appear probable.
Tommy Novak: Since joining the Penguins from the Nashvile Predators, in March of 2025, Tommy Novak has certainly been an underrated asset.
Coming off a 16-goal campaign last season that resulted in him playing all 82 regular season games, and the playoffs, Novak was rewarded this past summer, with a three-year extension for $13,950,000, which will go into effect in 2027-28.
It’s unclear if Dubas would make Novak available in trade, given that he just extended him in the offseason. But if there are suitors, who are willingly to give the Penguins a strong, competitive offer, for a forward that can play a quality center or wing, whether on a second or third line, then it has to at least be given consideration.