Penguins & Ducks Almost Pulled Off Pre-Deadline Trade

The Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins are no strangers to making trades, however, turns out they almost made a deal together ahead of the Mar.6 trade deadline. 

Reports have indicated before the Ducks shipped Ryan Strome to the Calgary Flames, they were in talks with Kyle Dubas and the Penguins about a potential deal. 

Frank Seravalli: The Penguins were...one of the teams that was calling Anaheim to get in on Ryan Strome; don't have to give up anything, it's just cap space, maybe this is an asset...a nice piece we could flip - FAN Morning Show (3/24)

The Ducks traded veteran forward Ryan Strome to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2027 seventh-round draft pick. The 32-year-old center, in the fourth year of a five-year, $25 million contract ($5M AAV), was moved to provide cap relief for Anaheim while giving Calgary a veteran presence.

While Strome has one of the best attitudes in the league about being a pro, and cherishing every day he gets to spend in the NHL, the Flames are so far out of it, he likely would have preferred to play meaningful hockey in Pittsburgh down the stretch of this season, and into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Penguins decided to essentially stand pat ahead of the deadline, as they didn't make any significant moves, but have been reeking the benefits of acquiring Yegor Chinakhov from the Blue Jackets earlier in the season.

Strome's appeared in 10 games as a Flames this year, recording an impressive seven points, while playing 16:40 per game. He's under contract for next season at $5 million, and likely slots in as the Flames second-line center for 2026-27.

Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images