NHL Trade Buzz 2025: Why Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson could shape the Penguins’ and Hurricanes’ future

The NHL rumor mill is once more showing signs of activity, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes as the main characters. The unwillingness to part from the talk surrounding Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson has not changed, even with the strong start of Pittsburgh. On the other hand, Carolina hears another blockbuster move.

Trade talks and lineup reshaping, the hall of fame of speculation this season may shift the league's balance dramatically before the March 6 trade deadline.

Why are Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson still in trade talks?

The Penguins have surprised everyone with their fantastic performance, but Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now says that their success has actually made them stronger in the trade talks. Instead of being forced to make early deals, the management in Pittsburgh is now in a position with a lot of certainty and can negotiate from that standpoint.

Kingerski remarked that the Toronto Maple Leafs might be looking for a top-six winger, hence Rust or Rakell could become interesting case studies. Nevertheless, the recent hand surgery of Rakell, which keeps him out of action for nearly eight weeks, can slow down the process of scouting. But, Adam Proteau of The Hockey News has indicated that the injury shouldn't be a factor in decision-making if the Penguins decide to trade him at the end of the season as originally planned.

Could the Hurricanes pull off another superstar move before the deadline?

According to Michael Russo from The Athletic, Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky is aiming for a long-term star among his assets and not just a rental. The organization has previously shown its eagerness for a star by bringing Michal Rantanen from Colorado in January, though they soon sent him to Dallas and reportedly inquired about Mitch Marner.Calgary, on the other hand, is also looking for a new top goalie, but Tulski continues to trust in the combination of Andersen and Kochetkov.

Besides, technically, the Hurricanes have $9.07 million in cap space plus quite a few draft picks from 2026 to 2028, so they could easily pull off a very dramatic move that would leave no one in the East unaffected.The NHL trade deadline of 2025 is drawing near, and the attention is still on Pittsburgh and Carolina. It does not matter if there is any change with Karlsson, Rakell, or Rust, or if Tulski makes a move again — fans can surely look forward to some action as the contenders will be fighting for that last piece of the Stanley Cup.Also Read: NHL Power Rankings 2025: Why the Colorado Avalanche are skating ahead in a chaotic start