As the NHL offseason progresses, the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in an intriguing position. While many teams are actively seeking to acquire veteran players like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson from the Penguins, a different kind of trade interest has emerged. According to Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas, several teams have inquired about reacquiring their own draft picks that are currently held by Pittsburgh. This unusual demand is believed to be linked to the potential for these teams to make offer sheets to restricted free agents (RFAs).

During an appearance on The Cam & Strick Podcast, Dubas revealed that multiple clubs have contacted him about picks the Penguins possess for the 2026 NHL Draft. Specifically, the Penguins hold the St. Louis Blues' and Winnipeg Jets' second-round selections, as well as the San Jose Sharks' third-round pick in 2026.

In the NHL, a team must possess its own original draft picks to be eligible to tender an offer sheet to a restricted free agent. The compensation a team must surrender when signing an RFA via offer sheet is determined by the player's new salary. Without these original picks, teams are unable to make competitive offer sheet proposals. This creates an opportunity for the Penguins to potentially sell these picks back to their original teams at a premium.

Last season, a similar situation arose when the Blues reacquired their own second-round pick to facilitate offer sheets for Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, who were then with the Edmonton Oilers. The Penguins were actually involved in a similar deal last summer, when Dubas facilitated the St. Louis Blues getting their 2025 second-round pick back in exchange for a 2026 second-rounder and a 2025 third-rounder. St. Louis eventually used the reacquired pick to sign Oilers RFA Filip Broberg to an offer sheet, which Edmonton could not match.

The current NHL restricted free agent compensation levels dictate that an RFA signing an offer sheet for just under $4.7 million would require the signing team to give up a second-round pick.

While no deals have been finalized yet, the current chatter suggests that teams are positioning themselves to potentially make offer sheets to players like Luke Hughes (New Jersey), Mason McTavish (Anaheim), or Marco Rossi (Minnesota).

This situation adds another layer to what has already been a busy offseason for the Penguins. Kyle Dubas may also be willing to trade veteran players such as Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, or Erik Karlsson. The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for a top-six winger after Mitch Marner's departure. As former general manager for the Maple Leafs, Dubas may hold the cards in a potential trade of a top Penguins forward to Toronto.

Penguins' Sidney Crosby is on the verge of making NHL history. Evgeni Malkin may be playing his last season with the team, as he has been rumored to not be re-signed.