The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Future
The Pittsburgh Penguins are at a pivotal moment as discussions around the future of key players Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and defenseman Erik Karlsson continue to swirl. Both Rust and Rakell are committed to the team until the end of the 2027-28 season, each earning upwards of $5 million annually. On the other hand, Karlsson is in the midst of a contract that extends for two more years, costing the Penguins $10 million of his total $11.5 million average annual salary.
Though the team appears to be in a rebuilding phase, the management has yet to explicitly acknowledge it, leading to uncertainty regarding these veterans’ roles in the organization’s future.
Trade Speculations
Recently, Josh Yohe from The Athletic expressed his surprise that the Penguins still have Rust, Rakell, and Karlsson as training camp approaches. He suggested that trading the two forwards could yield valuable prospects, draft selections, or younger players for the Penguins. Such moves could also enhance the team’s chances of winning the draft lottery in 2026, potentially allowing them to select top prospect Gavin McKenna.
Just two days later, Yohe reported that General Manager Kyle Dubas is okay with starting the new season with the current lineup but hasn’t dismissed the idea of potential trades. Among these veterans, Karlsson may have the best chance of being moved. Despite his hefty salary and lackluster performance in the last couple of seasons, some teams still show interest in the 35-year-old defenseman, particularly if the Penguins are willing to cover part of his cap hit.
It is worth noting that retaining salary on a costly contract with multiple years remaining can be a tough sell for teams, yet PuckPedia anticipates that the Penguins will have over $13 million in salary cap space for the upcoming season, which could rise to an impressive $53.2 million by the 2026-27 season, providing them with flexibility to manage Karlsson’s salary.
Yohe also speculated on whether Fenway Sports Group‘s ongoing sale of the Penguins might complicate decisions around retaining salary for potential trades.
Toronto Maple Leafs Rumors
Shifting the focus to the Toronto Maple Leafs, there have been rumors about defenseman Brandon Carlo becoming a potential trade asset. Carlo, who was brought in from the Boston Bruins ahead of the March 2025 trade deadline, could be targeted in trades as the Maple Leafs aim to enhance their forward lineup, according to James Mirtle, a colleague of Yohe.
The team is still reeling from the departure of right wing Mitch Marner and is searching for a suitable replacement. Mirtle believes Carlo could be a viable trade option, especially since the team lacks substantial trade capital and may favor acquiring a more offensively-minded defenseman in place of the shutdown specialist. However, should Carlo become available for trade, it might not happen until later in the season when more attractive options present themselves.
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