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The Pittsburgh Penguins trading Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals had pundits talking last week about which players might be next to hit the trade block. That chatter continues this week as the Penguins flounder near the bottom of the standings.
Marcus Pettersson recently surfaced as the most likely candidate. The 28-year-old defenseman is eligible for UFA status next July. He carries a $4.025-million cap hit and an eight-team no-trade list.
Josh Yohe of The Athletic has Pettersson on his list of Penguins most likely to be traded, calling the blueliner “as good as gone.” He cited sources claiming the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks are interested in Pettersson, speculating he’ll draw attention from other teams as the March 7 NHL trade deadline approaches.
The Canucks could have the inside track if they’re pursuing Pettersson. President of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and GM Patrik Allvin are former members of the Penguins front office and know him well.
Related: Breaking Down The Penguins’ Trade Options: Unrealistic To Potentially Possible
Yohe and his colleague Shayna Goldman also suggested Rickard Rakell could be a trade candidate. The 31-year-old right winger still has value as a scorer, but he’s signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $5 million and an eight-team no-trade list. He seems more likely to be peddled in the off-season when clubs have more cap space and willingness to take on contracts with term remaining.
Goldman also suggested forwards Noel Acciari, Anthony Beauvillier and Blake Lizotte could hit the trade block. Like Pettersson, Beauvillier is UFA-eligible next July. Acciari and Lizotte are signed through next season. All three carry cheap contracts but are unlikely to fetch much in return.
As for the more popular Penguins, Yohe doesn’t see Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin going anywhere. He suggested Kris Letang might be open to a trade despite his full no-movement clause and the four years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6.1 million. However, he acknowledged the 37-year-old Letang’s age, health history and poor play this season could make him a tough sell.
Related: NHL Rumor Roundup: Three Defensemen Drawing Interest Around The League
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