October 31, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images“data-image-legend=”
October 31, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
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Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is reportedly willing to sell. Penguins trade discussions boiled over Friday following several lukewarm reports, preceded by Sportsnet reporter Elliotte Friedman’s detailed report on Fan 590 in Toronto about what’s next for the desperate Penguins, who have spun out after starting the season 2-0.
The exchanges could take place “fairly quickly,” according to Friedman.
The Penguins are winless in four games, have just two regulation wins in 16 games this season and have only wins overall. Worse still, the Penguins look lethargic and uncompetitive.
“I think they could change (the roster) pretty quickly. I mean, it all depends on…a lot of these guys don’t have any trade protection, so what are they willing to do,” Friedman told the FAN Hockey Show. “The other thing too is Dubas has shown he has a pretty high line. Some of the guys he’s talked about or been talked about, he says he’s not going to trade unless he gets a certain level of return.”
You can watch part of the segment here.
Most of the Penguins’ veteran players have some level of trade protection. Evgeni Malkin must submit a list of three teams he is willing to agree to a trade with by January. Erik Karlsson benefits from a total no-movement clause. Kris Letang has an approved list of 10 teams. Rickard Rakell can block trades between eight teams.
The outlier of the group is winger Bryan Rust, whose trade protection expired on July 1, 2025.
“But then again, guys like Malkin and Karlsson have a say, right? And they have a lot to say,” Friedman said. “And I also think Dubas would say, ‘I’m not going to insult any of these guys. I want to know where they want to go,’ if that happens. But there’s no doubt that (it’s happening).”
It was reported and tacitly confirmed by Dubas that he was maintaining high asking prices on players like Rakell and Rust. Friedman also confirmed that Dubas wants high draft picks or ready prospects to enter the lineup.
The Penguins fell to another uncompetitive loss Thursday against the Boston Bruins, 6-2 at PPG Paints Arena. They begin a three-game road trip against the LA Kings on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena before facing Anaheim and San Jose as the second and third stops of the trip.
Gn sports
