Penguins Miss Out on Acquiring Three-Time 20-Goal Scorer to Central Division Rival

While the Pittsburgh Penguins haven't moved veterans Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust this off-season, the overwhelming belief around the NHL is that the team fully intend on moving the two star wingers at some point.

Right now however, all signs point to the team entering the 2025/26 campaign with both on the roster, meaning that after signing Anthony Mantha in free agency, there were no spots in this forward group.

Unfortunately, that means the Penguins missed out on adding a former three-time 20-goal scorer for cheap in free agency, as Victor Olofsson, most recently with the Vegas Golden Knights inked a deal with the Colorado Avalanche.

The 30-year old Swede tallied just 15 goals a year ago in Vegas, but for cheap, he would have been a fantastic replacement for either Rust or Rakell, as well as being a potential trade chip at the deadline.

Over his career, the former seventh round pick has picked up 105 goals in 370 games played with Buffalo and Vegas, and represents a fantastic pickup for the Colorado Avalanche, a team that needed better depth after struggling in the Stanley Cup Playoffs a year ago.

Ultimately though, this was a missed opportunity from Pittsburgh, as they could have added a proven commodity to their bottom-six that could have been a potential trade piece at the deadline, with all signs now pointing to the team looking to promote from within following a potential Rust or Rakell trade.