The Pittsburgh Penguins have missed the playoffs the last three years, an have an abundance of older players who could soon be traded before they become unrestricted free agents. Let’s take a look at this group of seven.
Sidney Crosby
The Penguins’s all-time assist leader may not end his career in Pittsburgh. According to scout Jason Bukala, he’s going “to win somewhere else is what I think.” Crosby has spent two decades with the Penguins, but was a career worst -20 this past season. Still, it would be hard to see him go if you are a lifelong Penguins fan. Crosby has two years left on his contract that will see him earn $17.4 million.
Evgeni Malkin
The veteran center from Russia is set to make $6.1 million this season, but could be moved by the trade deadline. The team showing significant interest at the moment are the New York Rangers. Malkin has a connection to former Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, who is now the Rangers head coach. Sullivan might be interested in trying to play Malkin and fellow Russian Artemi Panarin together.
Tristan Jarry
The Penguins veteran goaltender could be on the move very soon now that the team acquired Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks. Jarry is set to make $5.375 million in each of the next three seasons, but is 33 years old, and saw his statistics drop in 2024-25. Jarry’s goals against average (3.12) was above three, and his save percentage (.892), was below .900 for the first time since 2018-19.
Erik Karlsson
A lot of people questioned why the Penguins acquired veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson two years ago, and right now Karlsson will be a tough player for general manager Kyle Dubas to trade. That is because the native of Landsbro, Sweden will see him earn $23 million over the next two years. You could see the Penguins’s Dubas trade the 35-year-old Karlsson and have the Penguins pay a portion of his contract. Even though Karlsson won the Norris Trophy in 2024, the fact he has gone a combined -46 over the last three seasons cannot be ignored.
Kris Letang
At 38 years old, Letang is nearing the end of his career, and is set to make $6.1 million in each of the next three seasons. Letang was a -15 this past season and had a career worst 100 giveaways. He should no longer be considered an elite blueliner and it could be a matter of time before Dubas trades Letang.
Bryan Rust
The right winger from Pontiac, Michigan is 33 years old, and is set to make $5.1 million in each of the next three seasons. Even though Rust had a career-high 65 points in 2024-25, he was a career-worst -21, and had a career-high 64 giveaways in 2024-25.
Rickard Rakell
The right winger from Sundyberg, Sweden is in a similar situation to Rust this past season. He had a career-high 70 points, but had a career-worst plus/minus (-22), and had a career-high 77 giveaways. At age 32, he is set to earn $5 million in each of the next three years.
