The Winnipeg Jets have certainly had an eventful offseason. They most notably lost star winger Nikolaj Ehlers to the Carolina Hurricanes in free agency. They also added multiple new players, like Jonathan Toews, Gustav Nyquist, and Tanner Pearson.
While the Jets made some new additions this summer, they have yet to find a true star to replace Ehlers. They won’t be able to address this need through free agency, as there are not too many notable unrestricted free agents (UFAs) left. Thus, they will need to find a new top-six winger through the trade market if they hope to.
One fascinating potential trade target who stands out is Pittsburgh Penguins star Bryan Rust. With the Penguins rebuilding, he has been the subject of trade rumors all summer.
Because of this, Heavy Sports has a trade proposal that has the Jets acquiring Rust from the Penguins in a big move.
Jets Get:
- Bryan Rust
Penguins Get:
- 2026 First-Round Pick
- Nikita Chibrikov
- Morgan Barron
Rust Is NHL’s Top Trade Candidate
As noted above, Rust has been generating a lot of buzz as a trade candidate all off-season. His full no-trade clause expiring on July 1 is a major reason behind it. As a result of this, questions about his future in Pittsburgh have increased significantly.
Rust was named the NHL’s top trade candidate by Lyle Richardson in his NHL Trade Block Big Board for Bleacher Report back in August.
“Rust’s lack of a no-trade clause makes him easier to move than Rakell, who has an eight-team no-trade list,” Richardson wrote. “However, the Penguins could give him the option of choosing his destinations, given his lengthy service to the club.”
With the Jets needing more scoring, Rust is certainly a player who could grab their attention. This is especially so when noting that he just set career highs with 31 goals and 65 points in 71 games last season.
Rust has also scored at least 20 goals six times in his career and recorded at least 56 points four times. With numbers like these, he would be an excellent player for the Jets to replace Ehlers with on their second line. Furthermore, with Rust being an impactful two-way player, he would work on Winnipeg’s power play and penalty kill.
Why Jets Could Land Rust With This Trade Offer
With the Penguins rebuilding and Rust coming off a strong season, the Jets’ 2026 first-round pick would be the starting point in any deal. It is no secret that the Penguins are focused on improving their prospect pool right now. Thus, adding another first-round pick would be significant for them.
With Chibrikov, the Penguins would be getting a very intriguing forward prospect who has plenty of skill. The 2021 second-round pick has shown promise early on in his career, and this was certainly the case this past season. In four games with Winnipeg in 2024-25, he posted two goals and an assist. He also recorded 18 points in 30 American Hockey League (AHL) games with the Manitoba Moose in 2024-25.
As for Barron, the Penguins would bring in a big, bottom-six NHL forward who still has the potential to improve. The gritty forward appeared in 74 games this past season, posting eight goals, 15 points, and 122 hits. He also had a faceoff winning percentage of 52.1, so he is useful at the dot.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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