Once the Pittsburgh Penguins conclude their Olympic break in 2026, they will have just five games remaining before the 2025-26 NHL trade deadline. Based on their recent performance and standing, it seems the team is leaning toward being a buyer\u2014possibly a hybrid of trading and retaining assets\u2014similar to their approach last year.<\/p>\n
While players like Jason Robertson and Robert Thomas are exciting prospects to consider, they\u2019re more likely targets for the offseason rather than immediate in-season trades. Robertson, in particular, is unlikely to move now given that the Dallas Stars are strong contenders for the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n
The Penguins already boast considerable forward depth, with talented players such as Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, and Vir Koivnen deserving NHL ice time, yet there\u2019s no room for them on the roster currently.<\/p>\n
On defense, Pittsburgh might seek to add a piece\u2014not just because of Kris Letang\u2019s injury and Erik Karlsson\u2019s Olympic commitments, but also to bolster their defensive depth for now and the future.<\/p>\n
Given GM Kyle Dubas\u2019s statements and actions over the past year and a half, it\u2019s unlikely the Penguins will be sellers of veteran rental players at this point. However, the situation becomes more complex when considering young players with expiring contracts who might be re-signed or traded.<\/p>\n
Ideally, Pittsburgh would target a young defenseman capable of leading the team beyond this season, but such acquisitions are easier said than done. Here are some potential options that might fit the team\u2019s needs:<\/p>\n
Simon Benoit, Toronto Maple Leafs<\/strong> Zach Whitecloud, Calgary Flames<\/strong> Mario Ferraro, San Jose Sharks<\/strong> Logan Stanley, Winnipeg Jets<\/strong> Braden Schneider, New York Rangers<\/strong> Fan Take:<\/strong> Once the Pittsburgh Penguins conclude their Olympic break in 2026, they will have just five games remaining before the 2025-26 NHL trade deadline. Based on their recent performance and standing, it seems the team is leaning toward being a buyer\u2014possibly a hybrid of trading and retaining assets\u2014similar to their approach last year. While players like […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43137,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[730],"tags":[734],"class_list":{"0":"post-43136","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nhl","8":"tag-nhl"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43136\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nBenoit, at 27, is under contract through next season with a manageable salary of $1.35 million. While not offensively prolific, he’s a reliable defensive presence, providing physicality and size that Dubas appreciates. His defensive metrics show he’s effective at suppressing chances, and past trade familiarity\u2014like the Penguins acquiring Connor Dewar and Connor Timmins from Toronto last year\u2014could facilitate a deal.<\/p>\n
\nWhitecloud, 29, is a steady, less flashy defenseman, having contributed quietly to Vegas over recent seasons. His current contract at $2.75 million offers potential for growth, and given the Flames’ rebuild status, he might be available in trade talks. His defense would add stability without much offensive expectation.<\/p>\n
\nFerraro, 27, is an unrestricted free agent after this season, making him a rental unless he re-signs. Known for outperforming teammates defensively on a struggling Sharks team, he has some offensive upside that could appeal. However, acquiring him might involve a higher cost, and there’s uncertainty about his future with San Jose.<\/p>\n
\nStanding over 6’7″ and weighing more than 230 pounds, Stanley is a physically imposing player who has only recently established himself as a consistent NHL presence. As a pending unrestricted free agent, his availability depends on Winnipeg\u2019s spending plans\u2014though he could be a useful defensive depth piece if the price is right.<\/p>\n
\nSchneider, 24, fits the profile of the kind of player the Penguins might target, given his size and talent. However, with a restricted free agent status after this season, acquiring him would involve a contractual commitment. His recent performance has been inconsistent, and a change of scenery might help his development. He\u2019s not a top priority for the Penguins, but he remains an intriguing option.<\/p>\n
\nThis potential trade activity highlights how NHL teams are always balancing immediate needs with future considerations, making the trade deadline a thrilling and unpredictable time for fans. For hockey enthusiasts, these moves underscore the sport\u2019s dynamic nature, where strategic shuffles can reshape playoff races and team trajectories for years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"