NHL Trade Rumors: Pittsburgh Penguins talking blockbuster trade?

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been reasonably quiet this offseason, but that all could be changing before training camp. There's growing speculation general manager Kyle Dubas is working on a big trade and it could be involving Columbus Blue Jackets' forward Patrik Laine.

Laine has two seasons left on his contract at $8.7 million and holds a 10-team modified no-trade clause. He's recently been released from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Laine entered the program in January, while recovering from a shoulder injury.

Laine's a bit of a risk when it comes to acquiring him as he hasn't played a full season in five years and is coming off a year where he scored six goals and added three assists in 18 games. Regardless, the former second-overall pick is one of the best pure snipers in the game and seeing him play alongside Sidney Crosby would be very entertaining.

The Penguins have $3.5 million in cap space left to work with and would have to include a player or two to make the money work to add Laine's $8.7 million or perhaps a little bit less should Columbus be open to retaining some salary. The Blue Jackets aren't going to just give Laine away and GM Don Waddell has been very candid he will only pull the trigger on a move should it be a hockey trade that makes sense for his organization.

Potential candidates for the Penguins to move include Lars Eller, Noel Acciari, Rickard Rakell, Joel Blomqvist and Owen Pickering. 

The Penguins missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2023-24, and if they fail to do so again in 2024-25, look for Dubas' tenure in Pittsburgh to be short lived. 

Photo credit:  Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports