Will the Penguins Trade for a 32-Year-Old Veteran Defenseman Before the 26-27 Season?
Under general manager Kyle Dubas, the Pittsburgh Penguins completely changed their mindset before the 25-26 NHL season. Signing and trading players seeking a fresh start helped many careers, including those who were influential in Pittsburgh’s push for a playoff spot. Anthony Mantha had a career year and led the Penguins in goals scored. Egor Chinakhov, who recorded just six points in 29 games for the Blue Jackets this past season, turned into a completely different player, as he recorded 36 points in 43 games with the Penguins. As Pittsburgh's season came to a close after losing Game Six of a playoff matchup against their in-state rival, the Flyers, they wasted no time retooling for next season. From re-signings of players such as Connor Dewar and Evgeni Malkin to Dubas himself visiting the Penguins' AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, to watch their playoff matchup and upcoming prospects, the Penguins may be looking to make another big trade soon.
With initial rumors coming from NHL Insider Ryan Dixon, there is growing belief that the Penguins will take a massive swing at Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly. The 32-year-old veteran defenseman is currently slated to enter his fifth year of an eight-year, $60 million contract, but with the Leafs falling short yet again, they may look to move him. 78 points for the Maple Leafs was only enough to keep them one point above the New York Rangers for last place in the Eastern Conference, leading to them being awarded the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Entire personnel changes are being made as general manager Brad Treveling was fired on March 30th, followed by head coach Craig Berube on May 13th. Usually, when a team changes its personnel and enters a rebuild, its veteran players are the first to go. Rielly, unfortunately, has been known for defensive issues his entire career, and this was put on full display last season, when he posted a career-worst -18 plus/minus rating. He often falls out of position in direct five-on-five hockey, and critics point out his inability to out-muscle other players. Advanced analytics also show that the Leafs would give up high-danger scoring chances and expected goals at a higher rate whenever the Vancouver native was on the ice.
What Rielly brings to his veteran savviness is the ability to lead and excel on the ice. Having been the longest-tenured Maple Leaf, he naturally brings that veteran leadership. If he were to join a team such as the Penguins, with veterans like Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson, he would fit right in and reinforce Pittsburgh's mindset of blending veteran leadership with talented prospects. One of Dixon’s primary reasons to connect the 32-year-old veteran defenseman and Pittsburgh is because of GM Kyle Dubas, as he mentions, “Rielly’s current contract was inked by Pens GM Kyle Dubas in 2021, when Dubas ran the Leafs. Pittsburgh has only two defenseman inked beyond this coming season. You could see where Rielly might serve as a bridge of sorts between the current blueline corps and the one Dubas is trying to build for the future.” Letang is 39 years old, and Karlsson is entering the final year of his deal. Both of them, as well as the 32-year-old veteran defenseman, lack significantly in actual defensive play. However, if they can serve as mentors and teach a young group of defenseman coming into the Steel City, they may be able to keep this upward trend going. Rielly does have a no-move clause in his contract, but if he feels it is time for a change in his career, the Penguins have the money and influence to lure him in.
