As an NHL analyst, I’ve seen my share of strange offseasons, but what’s happening—or rather, not happening—in Pittsburgh is raising some serious questions. With training camp just around the corner, the fact that Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson are still on the Penguins’ roster is baffling to many. General Manager Kyle Dubas has had ample opportunity to move at least two of them, and the market for players of their caliber is always active. So, what’s the hold-up? The answer might lie not in the immediate future, but next offseason.
The Penguins are in a fascinating and precarious position. Publicly, they’re still talking about competing with their veteran core. But the moves of a savvy GM like Dubas often tell a different story. Trading Rust and Rakell would instantly inject the organization with a much-needed wave of prospects and draft picks. Moving a player like Karlsson, even with retained salary, would signal a complete shift in direction. And here’s the kicker: making these moves would almost certainly make the Penguins a worse team in the short term. While that sounds like a nightmare for fans, for a front office with its eyes on the future, it could be the perfect strategy.
The Generational Prize: Why Losing Now Could Mean Winning Big Later
Let’s be blunt: the real prize here could be a shot at the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. The consensus top prospect in that class is Gavin McKenna, a winger who observers are already labeling a “generational talent.” Players like that don’t come around often, and they can change the trajectory of a franchise for a decade or more. By trading away key veterans, the Pittsburgh Penguins wouldn’t just be clearing cap space; they’d be increasing their odds of landing a player who could become the new face of the franchise.
Building a Future Powerhouse
Think about the financial flexibility this creates. The Penguins already project to have over $53 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season with these players on the books. Imagine that number after trading two or three of them. That’s enough money to completely rebuild the roster around their new cornerstone player. Dubas could be playing the long game, preparing to build a new powerhouse from the ground up. It’s a painful process, and one the front office will never admit to publicly, but the signs are all there. The “retool” is over; the stealth rebuild has begun.
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The post Is a Stealth Rebuild Underway for the Pittsburgh Penguins? appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
