Pair of Penguins' Forwards Becoming Top Trade Targets

The Pittsburgh Penguins began the year looking like a postseason team. Despite an aging core and their new crop of top prospects several years away from the NHL, the Penguins were one of the biggest surprises of the early portion of the 2025-2026 season.

Lately, the Penguins have returned to earth. They hold a record of 16-12-9 for 41 points, and they sit one point back of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Barring major improvements over the coming weeks, the Penguins are likely heading for their fourth consecutive missed postseason. While that's disappointing for Penguins fans, it's good news for their general manager, Kyle Dubas, and his desire to keep infusing young talent into the organization. Two particular forwards stand out as emerging trade targets around the NHL.

Highly Coveted Power Forwards

Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha are both in their first seasons with the organization, but it wouldn't be surprising if both are gone before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.

Mantha was brought in as a rental, making this possibility all the more likely. He signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Penguins before the season. A three-time 20-goal scorer, Mantha's enjoying his best campaign in several seasons. Through 37 games, he's scored 12 goals and added 13 assists for 25 points, putting him on pace for a fourth 20-goal campaign. His blend of size, tenacity, and speed is something every playoff team wants to add to their roster, and that is going to be the case yet again in the months until the deadline.

Brazeau has been just as impactful in his first year with the team. The bruising middle-six winger has looked like a perfect fit with the Penguins. Despite missing some time due to injury, he's registered 11 goals and 18 points in 23 games played. He can hit and score, making him the ultimate deadline target for a contending team.