Penguins Could Shop Bryan Rust This Offseason

The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to get interest and call on Bryan Rust according to Josh Yohe. If they were to move him, it would cause a setback if the Penguins are planning to make a run at the playoffs again. This may be the last year they can really do so if Evgeni Malkin is retiring from the NHL after next season.

While that hasn't been confirmed, his contract does end and Sidney Crosby, while still playing at an elite level, isn't getting any younger. Rust is one of the core pieces that has been good for the Penguins for many years. He is a great complementary top-6 winger who plays with Crosby or Malkin and I think it is a poor choice if Rust is dealt this offseason.

Rust is 33 years old and has three years left on his deal at $5.125 million AAV. He put up 31 goals and 65 points in 71 games and averaged 19:45 of ice time per game. He is on the top power-play unit and is one of four forwards on the team with over a minute of ice time on the penalty kill per game. All of that combined would cost a team a great deal to acquire him. It is also a really good reason for the Penguins to keep him around for at least one more season.

Rust's contract goes from having a full no move clause to no trade protection at all. This really does open up the possibilities, but the organization owes it to the veterans that have been here a while to try and go on one more run before the team inevitably falls apart and goes even more downhill.

Rust would be a player that any team would love to have, especially a contender looking for an impactful top-6 addition at a fair price. I believe the Penguins will hold onto him, but if they aren't in the playoff race at the trade deadline, Rust's name will come up a lot.