Two Penguins Forwards Could Fetch Massive Trade Return Ahead of Dealine

The Pittsburgh Penguins' recent inconsistency has not changed general manager Kyle Dubas's approach, he will keep selling as the trade deadline nears closer.

According to The Athletic's Josh Yohe, there are a number of trades on the horizon, and aside from those who have complete no-trade clauses, like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, nobody is safe.

A league source told Yohe that Rickard Rakell most likely will stay in town despite the fact that he does not have any trade protection.

Rakell, signed through the 2027-28 season at $5 million per year, has scored 25 goals and added 24 assists for a total of 49 points in 57 games.

Still, Dubas could reverse course and trade Rakell for a late first-round selection or a second-rounder and a blue-chip prospect, as he has stated multiple times he wants his team to get younger in the future.

Matt Nieto was initially looked at as a player that Pittsburgh would keep, but he could fetch a decent return. A fourth-round selection would be an understandable expectation, providing another commodity to the team's future.

Nieto has played in 30 games this year and recorded only one goal and two assists, for three points.

Despite an early dip, the Penguins have clawed their way back into the postseason mix, only to fall once again recently with their string of losses. They are 23-26-9, good for dead last in the Metropolitan Division.

They are seven points behind the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings for the final wild-card spot as of Sunday, though Pittsburgh has played two more games than Detroit and one more game than Ottawa.