Pittsburgh Penguins POHO and GM Kyle Dubas has been a busy person over these last few weeks, but especially in these last few days. 

On Jan. 31, he traded Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor to the Vancouver Canucks for a package involving a first-round pick, Danton Heinen, and Vincent Desharnais. Then - on Wednesday - he dealt forward Michael Bunting to the Nashville Predators, along with a 2026 fourth-round pick, for defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Tommy Novak. He also dealt Desharnais to the San Jose Sharks for a 2028 fifth-round pick Wednesday.

And he certainly isn’t done.

With the market being very high on sellers this season, Dubas has a lot more work to do with some pending-unrestricted free agents and other moveable assets.

Here’s who I believe will be dealt as well as predictions on where each player will go:

Matt Grzelcyk

Traded by deadline? Yes

Trade prediction: Grzelcyk to the Calgary Flames for a 2025 second-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick

Dark horse destinations: Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars

Grzelcyk’s puck-moving ability would be a welcome addition to Calgary’s bottom pairing, but more importantly, the playoff-hopeful Flames need a boost to their 18th-ranked power play - especially from the blue line. They currently occupy the second wild card spot in the West.

They’ll want to bolster their blue line and their power play, but they won’t want to pay a premium for that, as they’re still building toward a better future. Grzelcyk’s status as a rental - and lower acquisition cost in comparison to other available defensemen - should make him a rather easy target.

If not Calgary, Tampa Bay is a good fit for Grzelcyk - and everyone knows Tampa is all-in all the time.

Anthony Beauvillier

Traded by deadline? Yes

Trade prediction: Beauvillier to the Ottawa Senators for a 2025 third-round pick, a 2026 sixth-round pick, and forward Noah Gregor

Dark horse destinations: Detroit Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche

There are a lot of teams in need of depth scoring, and Beauvillier’s bounceback campaign with the Penguins - as well as his cheap, expiring contract - should earn him a deadline sell to a contender. The forward’s 12 even-strength goals trail only Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust, and his lineup versatility makes him more valuable.

Ottawa currently occupies the second wild card spot in the East and desperately needs a playoff berth this season. They are also up against the salary cap, making it unlikely for them to be in the market for bigger players.

Beauvillier fits the bill nicely, and offloading pending-RFA Gregor in the deal gives the wiggle room they need to get it across the finish line.

Alex Nedeljkovic

Traded by the deadline? No

Dark horse destinations: Utah Hockey Club, Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton Oilers

The injury to John Gibson makes this one a bit more interesting, but the Penguins are in no rush to develop their goaltending prospects. They will need to offload one of Nedeljkovic or Tristan Jarry sooner rather than later, but that’s unlikely to be now - especially with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the midst of a title chase.

Also, the Penguins do like Nedeljkovic as a veteran presence in the locker room for the young Penguins’ goaltenders and players. But if they can’t move Jarry, expect Nedeljkovic to be dealt this offseason.

Erik Karlsson 

Traded by the deadline? No

Dark horse destinations: Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs

Karlsson’s stock did go up following the 4 Nations Face-off, yes, but at the end of the day, he still makes a lot of money - and he has a full no-movement clause, meaning he dictates where he goes.

Any place Karlsson might want to go is probably cap-strapped right now, and there should be many more options available in the summer. 

Unless something unexpected happens, Karlsson is staying.

Rickard Rakell 

Traded by the deadline? Yes

Trade prediction: Rakell to the Los Angeles Kings for defenseman Jordan Spence, forward prospect Koehn Ziemmer, and a 2026 first-round pick

Dark horse destinations: New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild

For the record, what I think the Penguins should do and what I think they will do are different. If I were Dubas, I would hold onto Rakell a bit longer. 

However, the seller’s market has spoken. And it’s making it increasingly more difficult and less justifiable for the Penguins to keep him around.

Is that a hefty price for Los Angeles to pay? Yes.

But one look at the market tells you why this deal makes a bit of sense. Going prices are insane, and Los Angeles is in desperate need of another scoring winger and a boost to their power play. Like Tampa Bay and Ottawa, they need to capitalize on their window now.

Rakell is on a team-friendly deal for three more years, and he is a goal-scorer. The Penguins would be getting a few things they desperately need as well. 

It’s an overpay, but everything else this deadline season has been, too.

Other deadline predictions:

• Noel Acciari to the Edmonton Oilers for a 2027 third-round pick
• Kevin Hayes stays put
• Blake Lizotte stays put
• Luke Schenn and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs (50 percent retained) for forward Nicholas Robertson

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