The Pittsburgh Penguins are a shadow of their former glory.

After securing back-to-back Stanley Cups earlier in the century, the team now finds itself squandering Sidney Crosby’s final years with lackluster roster decisions. Meanwhile, their long-time rivals, the Washington Capitals, are thriving as one of the NHL’s best teams in the 2024-25 season.

Through 60 games, the Penguins sit at 24-28-9, with just 57 points, second-worst in the Eastern Conference, ahead of only the Buffalo Sabres (53 points). League-wide, they rank sixth from the bottom.

It’s clear: Pittsburgh is heading for a sell-off before the 2025 trade deadline on March 7. With Marcus Pettersson already moved, the question is, who else could they trade, potentially to a team like the Edmonton Oilers? Let’s break it down.

Rickard Rakell stands out as the Penguins’ top trade chip outside of Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.
Once a 34-goal scorer with the Anaheim Ducks in 2017-18, Rakell is enjoying a solid year in Pittsburgh. He’s netted 25 goals and 49 points so far, putting him on pace for 33 goals and 66 points by season’s end.

The challenge is his contract. Rakell, 31, carries a $5 million cap hit through the 2027-28 season and has an eight-team no-trade list. While he’s a proven top-six forward, his lack of penalty-killing ability and the commitment to his cap hit could give teams pause. The Oilers, for example, must consider whether he’s the right fit, especially with Connor McDavid’s next contract looming.

Michael Bunting offers a middle-six winger option who brings intensity to his game. His breakout season came in 2021-22 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he posted 23 goals and 63 points. While he hasn’t hit those same numbers since, Bunting has recorded 14 goals and 29 points in 58 games this season, respectable production.

Bunting, 29, has a $4.5 million cap hit through 2025-26 and a 10-team no-trade list. Like Rakell, he doesn’t kill penalties. However, his ability to agitate opponents could be a valuable asset for a team like Edmonton in need of a feisty presence in their middle-six.

If Edmonton is in the market for a third-line center, Kevin Hayes could be a viable option. The 32-year-old left-shot center hit a career-high 54 points with the Flyers in 2022-23 and has two 20-goal seasons to his name. This season, his production has dipped—nine goals and 16 points in 44 games, putting him on pace for 16 goals and 29 points over 82 games.

Hayes is strong in the faceoff circle, winning 52.5% of his draws this season. His penalty-kill time is limited (14:21), but his versatility and experience make him an intriguing target. Contract-wise, Hayes carries a $7.143 million cap hit, but with the Blues retaining 50%, it’s effectively $3.571 million. If Pittsburgh retains another 50%, his cost drops to just $1.786 million. He also has a 12-team no-trade list.

Noel Acciari

The Oilers’ penalty kill has been abysmal lately, and Noel Acciari could help fix it. Acciari leads the Penguins in shorthanded ice time this season, logging 147:01 on the penalty kill. The right-shot center, who can also play wing, has contributed modestly on offense with four goals and nine points this season.

Notably, he had a surprising 20-goal campaign back in 2019-20. His $2 million cap hit runs through 2025-26, and Pittsburgh could retain half to make him even more affordable. However, Acciari does have a 10-team no-trade list.

Anthony Beauvillier’s career has been a rollercoaster. After scoring 21 goals in his second NHL season, he followed it up with back-to-back 18-goal campaigns. Since then, he’s bounced around from the Islanders to the Canucks, Blackhawks, Predators, and now the Penguins. This season, he’s posted 12 goals and 18 points in 60 games.

Beauvillier, 27, has seen some penalty-kill time (14:46) but isn’t a key contributor there. His $1.25 million contract expires at the end of the season, making him an unrestricted free agent. For a team like Edmonton, he could be a low-risk rental.

While Erik Karlsson would be an exciting addition, his cap hit makes that scenario highly unlikely. A more realistic target for Edmonton could be Matt Grzelcyk.

The 31-year-old left-shot defenseman has quietly put together a solid season, scoring one goal and a career-high 22 points in 61 games.

Grzelcyk carries a $2.75 million cap hit and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. While he’s a left-handed shot, the Oilers have shown they’re comfortable playing lefties, like Brett Kulak, on the right side. This flexibility could make Grzelcyk a good fit next to Ty Emberson.

The Penguins are in sell mode, and these players could provide value to a team like Edmonton looking to bolster its roster for a playoff run. The question now is which moves will actually materialize before the trade deadline.