Erik Karlsson continues to draw trade interest as the Penguins consider options for the veteran defenseman ahead of the new season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are actively exploring trade possibilities for star defenseman Erik Karlsson, and his next destination could reignite a longtime rivalry in the Atlantic Division.

In 1984, the Penguins had the No. 1 pick and chose Mario Lemieux. In 2005, 21 years later, the Penguins had the No. 1 pick and took Sidney Crosby. And heading into a draft 21 years after Crosby, Pittsburgh would be quite fortunate to get the No. 1 spot in the 2026 NHL Draft. That's because Gavin McKenna will be there for the taking.

With Rakell and Rust still on the roster, the Penguins can achieve that goal while also providing Crosby with the best opportunities to have at least one more productive season in Pittsburgh.

As the speculation grows around Sidney Crosby potentially asking for a trade out of the Pittsburgh Penguins, an NHL insider unveiled which might be the team's best chance to retain the veteran.

With the offseason slowing down a bit for the Pittsburgh Penguins and general manager Kyle Dubas, there is a sense that there won’t be any more major moves for the team, at least not for now.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are fully in their rebuilding era. It’s a strange time in the NHL when a team with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are not considered a