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Bryan Ru$t will be staying with the Pittsburgh Penguins

May 21, 2022, 8:47 PM ET [139 Comments]
Ryan Wilson
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Pittsburgh Penguins have reached a long-term deal with two-time Stanely Cup champions, Bryan Rust. There was a very real chance Rust was going to move on from the Penguins after seeing his contract expire with Pittsburgh's first round exit to the Rangers.

Rust will make 5.2M for the next six years.





Bryan Rust is a player who exceeded any expectations I had of him. He’s been a very good top six winger with both Crosby and Malkin. His Game 7 performance against Tampa Bay probably doesn’t get the credit it deserves. He’s a Penguin. I like the fact he is going to remain one for a number of years.

As for the deal I think this is a million less per season than I thought he was going to get. I think Rust will give at least two seasons of 5.2M level play and maybe more if they get lucky. I’m fine with the term. We know where this train is headed. It is going to derail at some point. It will likely be around the time Rust’s deal is in its later years. This deal lines up with the Penguins timeline. This is the reality of where the Penguins are as a franchise. You gotta make some potentially sketchy deals to compete for another two or or maybe three years.

Here is a snapshot of Rust as a player








I am surprised Rust was the player who received a long-term deal first. While I can give this signing a thumbs up in a vacuum, I also know I’m going to be pretty upset if they throw this money at Rust and then don’t keep Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. Because without 71 and 58 this signing doesn’t really serve much of a purpose.

If this is the first of three signings, it is a great move. I am hopeful this is where things are headed.

Thanks for reading!
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