Elliotte Friedman believes the Penguins and general manager Kyle Dubas could make sell-off trades "pretty quickly" as the losses pile up.
Pittsburgh opened the season 2-0 and has since slid to 5-9-2, good for 29th in the NHL. The Penguins have lost four straight, and Thursday's 6-2 home loss to the Bruins was another night where they looked lethargic and non-competitive.
Friedman laid out the picture on the FAN Hockey Show, and he didn't hedge on the direction. "I think they could change (the roster) pretty quickly," he said, before adding that "there's no question (it's happening)."
The complication is who can actually be moved. Most of the veterans carry some form of protection. Evgeni Malkin must submit a three-team trade list for Evgeni Malkin by January, Erik Karlsson has a full no-movement clause, Kris Letang has a 10-team approved list, and Rickard Rakell can block trades to eight teams.
Friedman admitted that gives those players "a lot of say." He also expects Dubas to handle it carefully, saying the GM would want to know where they want to go rather than insult anyone.
Bryan Rust is the outlier. His trade protection expired on July 1, 2025, which makes him the cleanest piece to move on paper.
But Rust is listed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, expected out until at least Dec 5, and he has played only seven games this season. A buyer can't evaluate a winger who is hurt, and that cuts into whatever leverage Pittsburgh thought it had.
Why Dubas won't take just any offer
Friedman pointed to a pretty high line from Dubas. Some of the players who have been discussed, he said, won't go unless the return hits a certain level.
It has been reported, and tacitly confirmed by Dubas, that the asking prices on Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust being up for grabs are steep. Friedman also confirmed that Dubas wants high draft picks or prospects who can step into the lineup right away.
That is a bold stance for a 29th-place club. Rakell is a 33-year-old with 9 points in 16 games, and he is not going to fetch a blue-chip prospect from a contender just because Pittsburgh wants one.
The stretch ahead won't help the sales pitch.
The Penguins are 1-6-1 on the road, and they open a three-game trip tonight in Los Angeles. Anaheim comes next, then San Jose, with every game now doubling as an audition for whoever is shopping.
Karlsson's full no-movement clause and Malkin's list are the two names to watch. If either one picks a destination before the trip ends, Dubas will have his answer on how serious this really is.
Quick hits
MINNESOTA WILD: Kirill Kaprizov had four points as the Wild beat the Sharks 4-1 and became the fastest team in NHL history to 1,000 wins, Michael Russo reports. Nice night to make history.
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ANAHEIM DUCKS: Cutter Gauthier scored the go-ahead goal as the Ducks rallied to beat the Flames 5-3 in Calgary. That ended Calgary's five-game winning streak.
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SHARKS: San Jose lost 4-1 at Minnesota on Friday, its fourth straight defeat, and the questions around Ryan Warsofsky aren't going away. That skid is getting loud.
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EDMONTON OILERS: The Oilers host the Canucks tonight at Rogers Place, and home ice has been the problem. They need this one in front of their own fans.
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LOS ANGELES KINGS: Peter Laviolette says Alex Turcotte is day-to-day and Kevin Fiala is close behind, as the Kings host the Penguins tonight. Good news for a team that needs bodies.
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Should the Penguins hold out for a high price instead of taking the best offers now?
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