NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest Penguins Speculation, Update On Darnell Nurse
It wouldn't be the off-season for the Pittsburgh Penguins without forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust surfacing in the trade market.
On Monday, Josh Yohe of The Athletic reported Penguins GM Kyle Dubas isn't trying to move either forward. However, like last summer, both are available for the right price.
Rakell, 33, and Rust, 34, have two years remaining on their contracts, with Rakell carrying an average annual value of $5 million while Rust's is $5.125 million. Rakell is the only one with no-trade protection, carrying an eight-team no-trade list.
Nurse to Penguins A Possibility: What Might a Trade With the Oilers Look Like?
As Kyle Dubas hunts for impact trades, a blockbuster swap involving Darnell Nurse and a key piece from both the Oilers and Penguins could reshape both rosters while navigating complex salary cap hurdles.
Meanwhile, the buzz persists over Darnell Nurse's trade request last week. The 31-year-old Edmonton Oilers defenseman has four years left on his contract with an average annual value of $9.25 million and a full no-movement clause.
Nurse reportedly gave Oilers management a short list of three to five trade destinations, prompting speculation over where he'd prefer to go.
The Philadelphia Flyers were rumored to be a potential landing spot. Last week, Jackie Spiegel of The Philadelphia Inquirer said she'd heard there was mutual interest between the Flyers and the Nurse camp. Still, she wondered about the cost of acquiring him and how much of his salary the Oilers might retain.
The Oilers likely prefer moving Nurse without retaining any salary, so they might have to accept an aging veteran with an expensive contract. Some observers wondered if Flyers captain Sean Couturier would be swapped for him, but he's unlikely to waive his no-movement clause given his club's improvement this season.
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 8:56 AM.