NHL Rumors: Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Top Remaining NHL Free Agents

Is it time for the Pittsburgh Penguins to move on from Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell?

Josh Yohe of The Athletic: There are valid reasons for both sides of, should the Pittsburgh Penguins should trade Bryan Rust. With it being about 18 months into the Penguins’ rebuild, is starting to lean toward the, it’s time to sell.

The Penguins have added quantity depth of young prospects. They may not have any “great ones’ but a foundation of ‘good ones.’

The organization only has one star, Sidney Crosby, and he’s turning 38 years old soon. Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, and Kris Letang star days are behind them. Rust and Rickard Rakell are better than good players, but they’re not stars.

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Penguins GM shouldn’t rush to trade either Rust or Rakell, but talks should intensify. The return should be good. They could get a first-round pick or a top prospect, along with clearing their cap space over the next two or three years.

Moving on from Rust and/or Rakell would help their odds of landing the top draft pick and Gavin McKenna, and help the rebuild move along a little faster.

Top remaining NHL free agents

The Athletic: Listing the top remaining NHL free agents still looking for a home for next season.

10. Jack Roslovic – C/W – Carolina Hurricanes13. Matt Grzelcyk – LHD – Pittsburgh Penguins15. Victor Olofsson – W – Vegas Golden Knights34. Nikolai Kovalenko – W – San Jose Sharks36. Ilya Samsonov – G – Vegas Golden Knights37. Alexandar Georgiev – G – San Jose Sharks39. Luke Kunin – C – Columbus Blue Jackets42. Evgeny Kuznetsov – C – Carolina Hurricanes43. Max Pacioretty – LW – Toronto Maple Leafs45. Jan Rutta – RHD – San Jose Sharks59. Nathan Bastian – W – New Jersey Devils62. Jon Merrill – LHD – Minnesota Wild65. Jakub Lauko – W – Boston Bruins66. Brett Leason – W – Anaheim Ducks68. James Reimer – G – Buffalo Sabres

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71. Joel Kiviranta – W – Colorado Avalanache76. Robby Fabbri – C/W – Anaheim Ducks78. Craig Smith – W – Detroit Red Wings79. Kevin Labanc – W – Columbus Blue Jackets82. Calvin de Haan – LHD – New York Rangers85. Jimmy Vesey – W – Colorado Avalanche87. Jesse Puljujarvi – W – Florida Panthers90. Klim Kostin – W – San Jose Sharks91. Conor Sheary – W – Tampa Bay Lightning93. Ryan Suter – LHD – St. Louis Blues97. Marc-Edouard Vlasic – LHD – San Jose Sharks98. TJ Brodie – LHD – Chicago Blackhawks100. Georgi Romanov – G – San Jose Sharks

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