Ryan Wilson: Bryan Ru$t will be staying with the Pittsburgh Penguins Bryan Ru$t will be staying with the Pittsburgh Penguins

After watching kadri play tonight I wish he was a penguin haha

$5.2M for 6 years is GREAT for us.

We should do something similar to Rakell quick.

Letang and Malkin will sign with us eventually.

I don’t think we should give Rakel that much money. I want to keep him badly but I don’t think he’s a 5 mil player. Let’s see what’s left over after there’s clarity on the Malkin and Letang situations.

I don’t think we should give Rakel that much money. I want to keep him badly but I don’t think he’s a 5 mil player. Let’s see what’s left over after there’s clarity on the Malkin and Letang situations.
- Victoro311

I wouldn't be mad at Rakell for $5M, but obviously if they can get him closer to the $4M mark that would be great.

I honestly was expecting Rust to get $6M per.

It's offish. Great deal.

Pittsburgh Penguins
@penguins
· 5m
The Penguins have agreed to terms with forward Bryan Rust on a six-year, $30.75 million dollar contract extension.

The deal begins in the 2022.23 season and runs through 2027.28 carrying an average annual value of $5.125 million.

Hoping Rust took under market to leave more $ for the others. A long shot wish but could happen.

I wouldn't be mad at Rakell for $5M, but obviously if they can get him closer to the $4M mark that would be great.

I honestly was expecting Rust to get $6M per.
- Rinosaur

If this was a normal offseason sure but I don’t think we can just throw that money at Rakel right now. To really “contend” we need to lock up Malkin, Letang, and Rust (check), figure out how to retain Rakel, bring in another winger for the top 6, and upgrade our backup goalie. We’ll see where our money is at once we know what’s happening with Malkin and Letang, but I’m not bullish about being able to check all these boxes if Rakel is given five mil.

I wouldn't be mad at Rakell for $5M, but obviously if they can get him closer to the $4M mark that would be great.

I honestly was expecting Rust to get $6M per.
- Rinosaur

Yeah hard to say. I see rust getting a 6 number on the open market. But 58 points in 70 games vs 41 points in 70 games for rakell, 13 of which were in 19 games for Pitt. Hopefully keeps him in the 4’s.

4.2 would be almost a .5 mil raise… I’m going to hope for that!

If this was a normal offseason sure but I don’t think we can just throw that money at Rakel right now. To really “contend” we need to lock up Malkin, Letang, and Rust (check), figure out how to retain Rakel, bring in another winger for the top 6, and upgrade our backup goalie. We’ll see where our money is at once we know what’s happening with Malkin and Letang, but I’m not bullish about being able to check all these boxes if Rakel is given five mil.
- Victoro311

I agree with you, but malkin, Letang, and rakell need to be done before free agency. The other things can also be done in season.

If this was a normal offseason sure but I don’t think we can just throw that money at Rakel right now. To really “contend” we need to lock up Malkin, Letang, and Rust (check), figure out how to retain Rakel, bring in another winger for the top 6, and upgrade our backup goalie. We’ll see where our money is at once we know what’s happening with Malkin and Letang, but I’m not bullish about being able to check all these boxes if Rakel is given five mil.
- Victoro311

There's a lot of x-factors at play. If the Pens can unload Zucker it changes things drastically.

If this was a normal offseason sure but I don’t think we can just throw that money at Rakel right now. To really “contend” we need to lock up Malkin, Letang, and Rust (check), figure out how to retain Rakel, bring in another winger for the top 6, and upgrade our backup goalie. We’ll see where our money is at once we know what’s happening with Malkin and Letang, but I’m not bullish about being able to check all these boxes if Rakel is given five mil.
- Victoro311

Agreed. My thinking is moving out Dumo/Petts and using that cap
For Rakell

Extra year(s) must have been really important to Rusty, no way he takes 5.1(less than Zucker) for 3 or 4 years. Really figured him getting 6.5-7/4 years.

Honestly didn't think Rust would be back. Seems fairly ok at the moment but everyone will feel like they did about Hornquist toward the back end of it. Was hoping we would hear about Letang first...

I don't get the thought process for wanting Rackell at $5M. Anything longer than 3 years with him or higher than $4M would be a mistake. He is good, but some of you fell in love with him real quick.

Honestly didn't think Rust would be back. Seems fairly ok at the moment but everyone will feel like they did about Hornquist toward the back end of it. Was hoping we would hear about Letang first...

I don't get the thought process for wanting Rackell at $5M. Anything longer than 3 years with him or higher than $4M would be a mistake. He is good, but some of you fell in love with him real quick.
- MacPatty

Not the same as Horny. End of his deal was while it appeared our window was still open. Final years of Rust will be closed window and no more big 3. Won't matter whether his play is worth 5.1 or 1.1 the final 2 years lol

I agree with you, but malkin, Letang, and rakell need to be done before free agency. The other things can also be done in season.
- 10inchTerror

Right I’m not saying ignore Rakell until free agency I’m saying Malkin and Letang absolutely need to be extended before giving him a $5 mil AAV contract. Can’t hand out a market priced contract to a support player until the big guys are taken care of.

Honestly didn't think Rust would be back. Seems fairly ok at the moment but everyone will feel like they did about Hornquist toward the back end of it. Was hoping we would hear about Letang first...

I don't get the thought process for wanting Rackell at $5M. Anything longer than 3 years with him or higher than $4M would be a mistake. He is good, but some of you fell in love with him real quick.
- MacPatty

Would rather overpay for Rakell by $1M than lose him and then resign Kap and have Sully force him onto Makin's wing again.

Honestly didn't think Rust would be back. Seems fairly ok at the moment but everyone will feel like they did about Hornquist toward the back end of it. Was hoping we would hear about Letang first...

I don't get the thought process for wanting Rackell at $5M. Anything longer than 3 years with him or higher than $4M would be a mistake. He is good, but some of you fell in love with him real quick.
- MacPatty

Rakell had a solid NHL resume before coming to the Pens and 19 games was enough for most of us to see he fit in well and brought some things that were missing to the lineup.

Right I’m not saying ignore Rakell until free agency I’m saying Malkin and Letang absolutely need to be extended before giving him a $5 mil AAV contract. Can’t hand out a market priced contract to a support player until the big guys are taken care of.
- Victoro311

Agreed.

I find Rusty taking that deal a touch heart warming haha. It's awesome, very happy to see.

Rakell had a solid NHL resume before coming to the Pens and 19 games was enough for most of us to see he fit in well and brought some things that were missing to the lineup.
- MattStrat

Absolutely, plus I'd much rather pay Rakell 5 a year for the next few years as opposed to 5.5 for 1 more year of Zucker(even though he looked really good in the 16 minutes he played this year) and then give it to an unknown replacement.

I love this deal. I saw him going somewhere for close to $7mil. I really feel like we got a steal. I considered him gone. But I’ll take 5mil all day long. He plays pens hockey as well as anyone!

Just (frank)ed around on capfriendly for a bit and this Rust deal takes a lot of pressure off of us that we may be able to pull everything off. With Rust’s deal, Malkin signed to $7.1 mil, and Letang signed to $8.5 mil, you can sign Rakell to $5 mil and have $3.5 mil for three vacant roster spots (two forwards and a goalie) before any trades. Basically all we have to do is trade one D man and we can make it all work.

Honestly didn't think Rust would be back. Seems fairly ok at the moment but everyone will feel like they did about Hornquist toward the back end of it. Was hoping we would hear about Letang first...

I don't get the thought process for wanting Rackell at $5M. Anything longer than 3 years with him or higher than $4M would be a mistake. He is good, but some of you fell in love with him real quick.
- MacPatty

The heart wants what the heart wants.

Absolutely, plus I'd much rather pay Rakell 5 a year for the next few years as opposed to 5.5 for 1 more year of Zucker(even though he looked really good in the 16 minutes he played this year) and then give it to an unknown replacement.
- Pags

Just because Zucker has a bad contract doesn't mean we need to overpay Rackell. Don't get me wrong, at $4M you could do worse but there are to be this illusion that he is better than he is.

Beyond one really good season he has been fairly mediocre. Hasn't scored 20 goals in 4 years. Struggles to stay healthy. Hasn't proven himself in the playoffs. I get it, he flashes some skill but there are a lot of other options out there that can put up about 40-50 points.