Could a Maple Leafs’ Rumored Blockbuster Still Happen — Through the Penguins?

Josh Yohe’s report that the Pittsburgh Penguins might shelve their big swings until 2027 reads, on the surface, like bad news for fans who were hoping GM Kyle Dubas would make a significant move. Yohe reports that the Penguins were shopping both Bryan Rust and/or Rickard Rakell, but the cost to move up in the draft and the returns offered for the two players didn’t make the move(s) worth pulling off.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean those deals are dead in the water. All it takes is for the right time to feel a need to make one more splash this summer. Perhaps that team is the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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While Dubas might have misjudged the value of his own trade assets at the NHL draft, things can change in a matter of a few weeks. Clubs try to make other moves that don’t quite go as planned, and holes that were supposed to be filled don’t.

And this is where it gets genuinely interesting for Toronto. Reports that Chayka, who has already been busy this summer, might want to pull off one more move are out there. What he has in mind isn’t clear, but the word “blockbuster” has been thrown out there more than once.

Do either Rakell or Rust qualify as blockbuster candidates? Perhaps not. Still, they have the money to make a trade work and Yohe seems to hint that Dubas is somewhat disappointed he didn’t get more accomplished. Both wingers are the type of players who could help Toronto if they’re going full win-now mode. Both could provide a cushion for Gavin McKenna, one that could help ease him into a more prominent role. Each are proven, playoff-tested pieces that fits exactly what a “blockbuster-in-waiting” front office like Chayka’s has been hunting.

What Would It Cost the Maple Leafs To Do This?

The obstacle could be the price, which may have changed. Reports from earlier in the summer suggested acquiring Rust would cost a genuine top-tier prospect and a high pick. But Yohe’s larger point about the Penguins’ 2026 misfire seems to suggest Pittsburgh genuinely misjudged this summer’s market and their own leverage. That could soften their asking price rather than harden it, especially if Dubas decides letting the season play out risks watching Rust or Rakell’s value erode with age and injury rather than improve.

If the Penguins don’t believe they’ll pull off the same playoff “miracle” they did last season, selling now might be more beneficial than waiting.

So does the “Chayka has one more blockbuster in the chamber” possibility have a chance if he goes through Pittsburgh? They have a potential roster need, and the Penguins had a desire to pull off a trade they weren’t able to.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Maple Leafs, Oilers, & Old Teams Win