PITTSBURGH \u2014 Don\u2019t look now, but the NHL trade deadline is right around the corner.<\/p>\n
President\/general manager Kyle Dubas\u2019 Pittsburgh Penguins have been undeniably good this season, which makes them a surprising candidate to be a buyer at the March 6 deadline.<\/p>\n
Of course, that requires selling something, too.<\/p>\n
Lots could happen between now and the deadline, but at this point, it will be a disappointment if the Penguins don\u2019t make the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Dubas, who has proven to be a skilled trader, will be in the spotlight.<\/p>\n
Who are the most likely Penguins to be dealt? Remember, there is a real possibility of a \u201chockey trade\u201d given the lack of sellers in the NHL this season. Here are the tiers.<\/p>\n
\u2018Sorry to our Canadian friends\u2019 division\u00a0Sidney Crosby<\/p>\n
I hate to break it to you, but Crosby will likely never be traded, and certainly not this season.<\/p>\n
The obsession with Crosby playing elsewhere has consumed so many people for years. Crosby has earned the right to go elsewhere if he chooses, but he\u2019s never wavered in saying he wants to stay in Pittsburgh. Crosby\u2019s agent, Pat Brisson, forced this idea into the spotlight<\/a> before the season. But let\u2019s take Crosby at his word.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s not happening\u2019 division\u00a0Evgeni Malkin<\/p>\n He has a full no-movement clause, loves Pittsburgh and has absolutely no interest in leaving. I haven\u2019t a clue what the market would be for him \u2014 the Penguins could get something, sure \u2014 but he holds the cards. He has affection and loyalty to Pittsburgh. He\u2019s not going anywhere.<\/p>\n Kris Letang<\/p>\n He\u2019s in the same boat as Malkin with the no-movement clause, though the truth with Letang is that Dubas would have a tough time moving him. He\u2019s not played well, and, given his contract and longtime health issues, there is no interest in him from other teams.<\/p>\n That said, Letang has played much better in recent weeks. The Penguins missed him after his recent broken foot. He\u2019s the classic player who brings value that can be taken for granted \u2014 until he\u2019s out.<\/p>\n \u2018Send to voicemail\u2019 division\u00a0Ben Kindel<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know what the 18-year-old center\u2019s ceiling is, but I know it\u2019s high. And if I know this, you had better believe the Penguins know this.<\/p>\n He\u2019s special and is going to be wearing black and gold for a very long time.<\/p>\n Sergei Murashov<\/p>\n He\u2019s off limits. Remember: Dubas isn\u2019t the type of GM who likes to pay goaltenders outrageous amounts of money. Murashov, who\u2019s currently in the AHL, will be cheap for the next few years, presumably, which falls in line with how Dubas prefers to build teams.<\/p>\n Will Horcoff<\/p>\n You\u2019re probably aware of what Horcoff is doing<\/a> at Michigan this season. So are the Penguins. He might be a couple of years away from being NHL-ready, but the Penguins are very excited about his future.<\/p>\n Bill Zonnon<\/p>\n Don\u2019t sleep on this guy. Injuries have plagued Zonnon\u2019s 2025-26 season, and, like Horcoff, he might be a couple of years away from being an NHL player. But it\u2019s easy to forget that the Penguins actually selected Zonnon before Horcoff. They absolutely love his game. He\u2019s a natural center, and the Penguins aren\u2019t exactly young at that position, other than Kindel. They believe Zonnon has a real opportunity to be a building block. It\u2019s not to say that players like Zonnon and Horcoff are completely unmovable \u2014 hockey trades happen \u2014 but the odds of either being shipped away are minuscule.<\/p>\n Egor Chinakhov<\/p>\n Nah, don\u2019t ask. They like him quite a bit. You can see why<\/a>. He\u2019s been an incredible acquisition<\/a>.<\/p>\n Harrison Brunicke<\/p>\n The Penguins remain very high<\/a> on the 19-year-old defenseman, even though they shipped him back to his junior team.<\/p>\n \u2018Maybe for a young star\u2019 division\u00a0First-round pick<\/p>\n It\u2019s unlikely that Dubas would move a first-rounder. But if he can orchestrate a deal for someone who could bring instant star power to Pittsburgh, I\u2019m sure he\u2019d do it.<\/p>\n \u2018Hockey trade only\u2019 division\u00a0Erik Karlsson<\/p>\n He\u2019s been great, and the Penguins would be OK with keeping him for the duration of his deal, which runs through the end of next season. I don\u2019t foresee him going anywhere, at least not yet. He\u2019s too important right now.<\/p>\n Bryan Rust<\/p>\n It would take a lot for Dubas to trade Rust. He means so much to so many people in the organization. He might be a lifer.<\/p>\n Tommy Novak<\/p>\n He\u2019s suddenly a pretty valuable guy. Novak, acquired from the Nashville Predators in the Michael Bunting trade<\/a>, found his game and is thriving as a member of the Penguins. A significant return would be required for him to be shipped out.<\/p>\n Rickard Rakell<\/p>\n He\u2019s not going anywhere, realistically. That could always change, of course, but he\u2019s in a similar boat to Rust. He\u2019s just so important to this team\u2019s success. Rakell is more likely to go in a \u201chockey trade<\/a>\u201d than Rust, but it\u2019s still wildly unlikely at this point.<\/p>\n Stuart Skinner<\/p>\n