Pittsburgh Penguins Facing Difficult Ultimatum With Rust and Rakell Trades

This off-season was meant to be a busy one for the Penguins, as many expected them to trade several key veterans, but to this point, GM Kyle Dubas has obviously not gotten the value that he would have liked in trade offers.

Now, with training camp right around the corner, it's likely that they'll head into the new season with both on their roster, presenting them with a major ultimatum heading into 2025/26.

On one hand, having both get off to hot starts will up their value around the league, allowing Dubas to demand more for the veterans, and with many teams around the league needing help on the outside, this would be a fantastic move.

However, that plan comes with plenty of risk, as the team getting off to a good start will impact their ability to tank for the No. 1 overall pick and generational prospect Gavin McKenna, who many see as the next big star in the National Hockey League.

This has given Dubas a genuine dilemma, as he could get a solid return for either player now, or wait and bank on a massive return if they get off to a hot start, but if it's too hot, they risk finding themselves in the mushy middle.

Clearly, the Penguins path forward beyond the off-season is unclear, and several big decisions from Dubas will guide that direction, and now, fans will need to hope that he can pull the right strings ahead of the regular season.