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Rutger McGroarty, Pittsburgh Penguins (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Penguins Have Options as Trade Deadline Approaches

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Sylvie McCarthy | Last updated Feb 9, 2026 9:35 AM ET

No one saw the Pittsburgh Penguins coming this season. Going into last summer, the Penguins looked like they were at the beginning of a rebuild and were not projected to be very good for the next few seasons. However, they are currently in a playoff spot and could return to the postseason for the first time since 2022. The NHL trade deadline is on March 6, and general manager (GM) Kyle Dubas can afford to be patient.

Dubas’s Plan Is Working

Since becoming the GM in 2023, Dubas has been stockpiling draft picks and young prospects. He knew he was taking on the responsibility of a rebuild, and he’s done a good job up to this point. Pittsburgh’s rebuild is ahead of schedule, so what are their plans for the trade deadline?

The Penguins are currently in the thick of the playoff race, and if they keep playing well they should make the postseason. Dubas has set the team up nicely and there isn’t really a wrong answer for him at the trade deadline. He could choose to go after a forward, but there isn’t really a huge need for one at this time. Pittsburgh’s current forward group is solid, not to mention the depth they have down in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen. They don’t really need any help at the goalie position right now either.

Adding a defenseman is the most likely option for Pittsburgh. They have salary cap space and assets to move. They could use a long term option on the left side. Brett Kulak will be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at the end of this season, and Parker Wotherspoon has one year left on his current contract. They could also go for someone on the right side to play behind Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang, but if they make a move at the deadline it will more than likely be on defense.

Dubas Is Playing the Waiting Game

Dubas got a head start in beefing up his lineup when he added forward Egor Chinakhov on Dec. 29, 2025. He acquired Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round draft pick and a 2027 third-round draft pick. It was a high-price, high-risk trade, and so far it has worked out for the Penguins.

The Penguins have five games left before the trade deadline. How Dubas chooses to play his hand will depend in large part on how the team performs in those games. It will also depend on the other teams in the Metropolitan Division. Dubas will be keeping a watchful eye on teams like the New York Islanders, the Washington Capitals and the Blue Jackets. Since his team is currently in such a tight race, if their Metro Division rivals start making moves to bolster their rosters, Pittsburgh may want to do the same.

The Penguins are in second place in the Metro, but things could change quickly. If they continue to perform at a high level, it would not make sense to disrupt that. They have earned a chance to prove themselves, and Dubas may give it to them.

Pittsburgh has more draft picks, especially in the first three rounds, than any other team over the next three years. The team will more than likely be a strategic buyer and won’t trade anything of significance for a short-term gain. This is why they have made it their mission to stockpile assets. The Penguins now have flexibility and plenty of options. No trades can take place until Feb. 23 due to the Olympic roster freeze, so Dubas is probably using this time to examine all his options.