The Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to be sellers this offseason as they are entering a rebuild.
Entering the offseason, Pittsburgh is expected to shop the likes of Bryan Rust, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Ryan Graves, among others. However, entering the offseason, NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period named Rust the most intriguing trade chip this offseason.
“With the Pittsburgh Penguins leading the seller’s market by a landslide, Kyle Dubas will be a popular man over the next few weeks,” Pagnotta wrote. “Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Ryan Graves are all up for grabs for the right price, and the Penguins may also be willing to take on a contract or two given their cap space.
“Rust, to me, is most intriguing,” Pagnotta added. “His full no-movement clause expires June 30, end-of-day. He does not own any no-trade protection in the final three-years of his contract. He is one of the most appealing assets on a team going through a rebuild. Just about any contender would like to have him in their lineup.”
Rust has three years left on his six-year, $30.75 million deal, so it would likely cost quite a bit to acquire him. However, he’s a top-six winger who can score and produce plenty of offense.
Rust recorded 31 goals and 34 assists for 65 points in 71 games last season. He has won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, so he also knows what it takes to win in the playoffs, which will appeal to Stanley Cup contenders.
Penguins’ Rust on Trade Bait Board
Entering the offseason, Rust’s name has come up in trade talks, and he is expected to be dealt this offseason.
With Rust losing his trade protection and still producing, it would be wise for the Penguins to trade him. Pittsburgh would get a lot in return, and NHL insider Frank Seravalli of DailyFaceoff put Rust 14th on his trade bait board.
“There’s zero doubt that Rust has more than lived up to his end of the bargain on his deal,” Seravalli wrote. “With the roster crumbling around him, Rust put up a career year in goals, assists and points last year. The Penguins are one of the few teams in the NHL open to shifting their roster to be better for the long haul and not today. Doesn’t it then make sense for GM Kyle Dubas to get out from under Rust now while the gettin’ is good? There’s definitely interest. Rust’s trade protection expires on June 30.”
Rust has skated in 638 career games, recording 203 goals and 234 assists for 437 points.
Penguins Clear Sellers in Offseason
Pittsburgh has been trying to be competitive with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin winding down their careers.
Yet, after missing the playoffs in three straight years, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun revealed the Penguins are looking to be sellers.
“The Penguins are the only true seller right now, most teams at the bottom of the standings are looking to add, get better,” LeBrun said on TSN1050.
The Penguins enter the offseason with nearly $23 million in cap space.
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