Penguins dealing with trade offer, but not the one fans expected!

When Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas hinted that his phone has been ringing this offseason, most fans assumed it was about the usual suspects, veteran names that have been floating in trade rumours all summer, like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell or even defenseman Erik Karlsson.

But that’s not what’s going on.

Speaking with hosts Andy Strickland and Cam Janssen on their podcast, Dubas revealed that the calls aren’t (just) about players, but they’re about draft picks. And not just any draft picks, either. Rival GMs have been trying to get back their own 2026 second- and third-rounders from Pittsburgh.

“We dealt with (those types of calls) a lot this summer, as well. Teams were calling for picks back in the 2026 Draft. And you know why,” Dubas said. “So that’s their business. If they want to pay a fair price, we probably talk about it.”

For the record, the Penguins currently hold:

St. Louis Blues’ 2026 second-round pick

Winnipeg Jets’ 2026 second-round pick

San Jose Sharks’ 2026 third-round pick

NHL teams often want their own draft picks back before a trade deadline as it gives them more flexibility if they need to make a splashy move or if their season doesn’t go as planned and they’re looking to rebuild. By holding on to those picks for now, Dubas has quietly put the Penguins in a strong bargaining position.

It’s not the blockbuster trade chatter fans might have been expecting, but in a league where leverage is everything, this might be the kind of behind-the-scenes play that pays off big when it matters most.