Centers and defensemen. If Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas were to make a shopping list and head to the local player distribution center, those would be the primary trade targets on his list.

The Penguins need centers and defensemen for all levels of the organization. If there was a weakness on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, it was that natural wingers filled the middle, somewhat limiting the team’s offense when games tightened later in the season.

Fortunately for the Penguins, another young player is falling out of favor with his team that Dubas could (should?) swoop in to claim.

Reports out of Minnesota, including by The Athletic’s Michael Russo, say that Minnesota GM Bill Guerin is likely to trade Marco Rossi.

A Rossi trade fits the Penguins very well.

The Penguins already have a foundation for a competitive top-six attack in place with Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Ville Koivunen, and Rutger McGroarty.

However, Malkin is likely to retire after next season, meaning the Penguins will have a Russia-sized hole in the middle of their lineup.

Dubas has all but shut down the idea of signing free agents to long-term deals, and acquiring more salary dumps would seem to hinder the progress of some young players on their way up. So, trades for younger players who can help in the immediate and stick around for more than a handful of years is the goal.

Read More: 5 Penguins RFA Targets & Projected Contracts

In his year-end press conference, Dubas admitted that trades for restricted free agents, rather than trying to offer-sheet them away, was the more likely path forward.

Bear in mind, signing RFAs for more than $5 million would cost the Penguins at least a first and third-round pick, so that’s absolutely out of the question as the team faces a season that could put them near the bottom of the league, which also means near the top of the 2026 NHL Draft lottery with a double-digit chance to select phenom Gavin McKenna.

(The NHL has not yet released the 2025 compensation levels, but around $5 million will be the line between giving up a second-rounder and parting with a first and third.)

For example, for every fan who has responded that Bo Byram is a great offer sheet target, AFP Analytics estimates his next contract to carry a $7.7 million cap hit. Any GM who would trade a high first-round pick and a third-rounder for Byram should immediately be shown the door and fired for cause.

But a trade for a player like Rossi? That makes much more sense in the swirling world of uncertainty that has become the Penguins’ offseason.

Preliminary Penguins RFA Trade Targets, Forwards
Marco Rossi

The Minnesota Wild have seemed unsure about Rossi’s long-term future with the team for a couple of seasons. Guerin took him off the NHL trade block this season, but it seems Guerin is now moving toward a trade.

Rossi is just 23 years old, and this season, he had 60 points in 82 games. Yet, he was shuffled down the lineup late in the season and was the team’s fourth-line center in their Round One loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Rossi was the Wild’s 2020 first-round pick, selected ninth overall. The drawback is that he is only 5-foot-9, 173 pounds.

“He did everything they asked him to do (last) offseason to become the player they wanted him to become,” Russo told the SOTA podcast.

“If the Wild organization is thinking that he’s not someone who they’re eventually going to pay seven, eight, or $9 million, now is probably the good time to move him for somebody they think is bigger, faster, more dynamic.”

Minnesota has been close to taking the next step, but it has limited options to remake its roster. Rossi is the likely trade bait, and despite his size, he seems to fit the Penguins’ style, at least as it was under former coach Mike Sullivan.

He’s got a high hockey IQ, on which Dubas seems to place importance, a good first step, and he knows how to play down low–the Penguins’ style of offense.

In terms of the trade cost, the Penguins don’t have a better player to deal away than Rossi, and certainly not one that’s bigger, faster, or more dynamic. However, if any team has that–they’re not giving it up, either.

Rossi is a quite plausible Penguins trade target, but it would cost the Penguins a healthy return, perhaps the Rangers’ first-round pick with a 2026 lottery protection, or one of their top-line veteran wingers.

Of course, Minnesota wants to get faster and more dynamic. Perhaps Dubas could interest them in a defenseman?

Buffalo Options

Once again, the Buffalo Sabres are the team that has the candy Dubas craves. RFA Defensemen. Check. RFA centers, both established options and prospects on the way up? Check.

A GM who seemingly buckles after passing up offers. Check that box, too.

Buffalo has young players ready to ascend, and young players on the roster. Pending the players’ contract asks and the internal scouting, one or two could be on their way out.

Center Ryan McLeod, 25, is due a nice raise from his $2.1 million salary. The tall, skinny center (6-foot-3, 188 pounds) had something of a breakout season for Buffalo, posting 53 points (20-33-53) in 82 games after just 30 with Edmonton the season before. Is he Edmonton’s fading prospect or Buffalo’s diamond in the rough?
J.J. Peterka, 23, also padded his offensive totals, though with some irresponsible play. He posted 68 points, 18 more than last season, but also had 60 more turnovers (87) than the year before. That’s an astounding increase.

Center Jiri Kulich is only 21 and made his NHL debut this season. Late in the year, he played high in the lineup, centering Buffalo’s top line. Kulich posted 24 points (15-9-24) in 62 games.

Konsta Helenius could debut at some point next season. With Tage Thompson leading the roster, this is a prime opportunity for Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams to deal a surplus for badly needed pieces elsewhere in the lineup. The question is, who?

Mavrik Bourque

He’s made every one of our lists so far, and will continue to be on our lists. The forward plays the game the right way, but hasn’t found his niche with the Dallas Stars. There’s little question he’s an NHL player, either in the middle or the right wing, but perhaps the Penguins can help Dallas repeat or get closer to the Cup (pending how this playoff run ends).

Bourque has been scratched in the playoffs, further casting doubt on his role with the team. This season was his first full NHL campaign, and he had only 25 points (11-14-25) in 73 games, but nine of Bourque’s goals came after Jan. 9.

Coach Pete DeBoer shuffled him around the lineup, but maybe the former AHL star needs a different situation.

Dallas has only $5.33 million for next season, with pending UFAs Jamie Benn, Mikael Granlund, and Matt Duchene to re-sign. Bourque could be the perfect low-cost acquisition with high upside. If Dallas doesn’t trade him, they might lose him for a second, or only a third-round pick, as another team with available opportunities submits an offer sheet.

It would seem the Penguins have plenty of draft picks to get this one done.