For one, a lot of the Penguins’ underlying numbers in 2024-25 were respectable, especially as they related to generating offense and scoring chances. They were right around the 50 percent mark (or above) with expected goals shares, scoring chance shares and high-danger scoring chances shares, largely due to their ability to create opportunities.

With the main wave of free agency behind them, teams that missed out on big-name signings may now be shifting their focus to the trade market.

The Pittsburgh Penguins could be a team fielding plenty of phone calls from inquiring GMs in the coming days, and according to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, two of Pittsburgh's veteran forwards have been receiving significant trade interest.

The Carolina Hurricanes were interested in both Rust and Rakell before signing former Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers to a six-year, $51 million contract, The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reported on Monday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could part with their prized prospect to land a top-six winger to take Mitch Marner's place.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are working to fill the gap created by Mitch Marner’s departure this offseason. One player that has been rumored as a potential replacement is Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust. According to insider David Alter, Rust "perfectly fits the identity of what this Toronto Maple Leafs team wants to be."