Report Links Maple Leafs to Top-6 Forward Duo Out in Pittsburgh

Despite their recent acquisition of Dakota Joshua, the Toronto Maple Leafs remain in the hunt for a top-6 forward, and Matt Larkin from Daily Faceoff believes it will lead them to the Pittsburgh Penguins' forward duo of Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.

The Penguins are one of a few teams that are outwardly sending messages of their impending rebuild and potential fire sale. While a lot of attention is being paid to Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson, the Leafs may have an appetite for Rust or Rakell, but have to go through Kyle Dubas first.

Both Rust and Rakell have term left on their respective contracts, where the former comes in at a cap hit of $5.13 million, and the latter comes in at $5 million flat. Larkin believes the Leafs are one of many teams interested in the duo, including the Winnipeg Jets and the Buffalo Sabres.

While the Leafs are believed to have serious interest, their biggest hurdle is going to be finding a package that would entice Pittsburgh. Within the first three rounds of the next 3 drafts, Winnipeg has 7 picks to Buffalo's 8, which includes all of their first rounders. Comparatively, the Leafs have 5 picks, and only 1 first rounder that is set for 2028.

Additionally, the Leafs are going to need some form of retention, and will need the Penguins to take on a contact like David Kampf or help them out by taking on Calle Jarnkrok.

For that to be the case, the Leafs will have to offer a little more of a substantial package to make it worth the while of the Pens, with not many top assets in their arsenal to use as bargaining chips.