Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell could be landing in Montreal, and the dog days of summer haven't slowed this conversation down one bit.
Multiple reports have the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens engaged in real trade talks around one of those two wingers heading north of the border.
Montreal wants top-six help, but there's a catch. The preference is for a versatile forward who can also handle center duties if the situation calls for it.
Right now, the Canadiens are genuinely interested in Pittsburgh's wingers, but they're holding out to see if a true second-line center becomes available elsewhere first.
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Montreal enters August with $9,700,000 in cap space, still needing to sign a couple of restricted free agents before camp opens.
Rust posted 29 goals and 36 assists for 65 points in 72 games last season, while Rakell added 24 goals and 24 assists for 48 points in 60 games, either one a real scoring upgrade for Montreal's middle six.
Pittsburgh's motivation is straightforward. GM Kyle Dubas wants to get younger without completely surrendering competitiveness, and both wingers have been available for weeks now.
Karlsson and Montembeault add more layers to both sides
Dubas isn't just fielding calls on his forwards either. He's reportedly taking interest on defenseman Erik Karlsson too, adding another layer to Pittsburgh's roster shakeup this summer.
Karlsson posted 15 goals and 51 assists for 66 points in 75 games last season, still a legitimate difference maker at 36 despite carrying an $11,500,000 cap hit.
Moving him would be a real change in direction for Pittsburgh, but it fits the broader theme of a front office willing to shake up its veteran core all at once.
On Montreal's side, GM Kent Hughes has his own separate storylines running in parallel. He keeps fielding calls on top prospect Michael Hage, and he's simply not interested in moving him.
Hage remains University of Michigan property for now, exactly the kind of controllable young asset Hughes wants to build around rather than flip for immediate help.
Montreal is also trying to move goaltender Sam Montembeault, since carrying three netminders into training camp isn't a situation Hughes wants to deal with.
Two GMs, two very different motivations, and a handful of moving pieces all circling the same general conversation right now.
Nothing here is finalized, and Montreal's preference for a center over a winger means this deal could still stall out entirely if the right center surfaces elsewhere first.
But between Rust, Rakell, Karlsson, and Montembeault, Pittsburgh and Montreal both have real reasons to keep this line open through the rest of August.
Should the Canadiens trade for Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell before camp opens?
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