Penguins A to Z: Bryan Rust is back where he belongs
With the Penguins’ 2021-22 season coming to a quick ending in the first round of the playoffs, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 54 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until the 2022-23 season — with the organization, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to top-six winger Jason Zucker.
Bryan Rust
Position: Right winger
Shoots: Right
Age: 30
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 192 pounds
2021-22 NHL statistics: 60 games, 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists)
Contract: In the final year of a four-year contract with a salary cap hit of $3.5 million. Entering a six-year contract with a salary cap hit of $5.125 million. Pending unrestricted free agent in the 2028 offseason.
(Note: According to Cap Friendly, the first three years of Rust’s new contract contain a no-movement clause.)
Acquired: Third-round draft pick (No. 80 overall), June 26, 2010
Last season: For the third consecutive season, Bryan Rust failed to play anything close to a full 82-game season.
In fairness, the previous two seasons were disrupted by the pandemic.
The third? Rust’s own individual maladies cost him 22 games.
Yet, he still found a way to reach the 20-goal mark for the third consecutive season.
As a result, he received a long-term contract that will make him a major part of the Penguins for many years.
Rust’s 2021-22 campaign opened on something of a rocky note. First, he got an empty net goal in the season opener, a 6-2 road win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 12.
But two nights later, Rust suffered an undisclosed injury during a 5-4 overtime road loss to the Florida Panthers. That ailment sidelined him for seven games.
Rust returned to the lineup by Nov. 6 but was mired in a goalless streak over his next nine games. After breaking through with a goal in a 4-1 home win against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 24, Rust suffered another undisclosed injury that cost him 11 contests.
Returning to the lineup by Jan. 2, Rust went on a sinister tear with 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in his next three games.
That outburst was halted Jan. 8 when Rust contracted covid-19 and was sidelined for another four games.
Back in the lineup by Jan. 17, Rust appeared in the Penguins final 45 games of the regular season and posted 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists). Ultimately, he finished with a new career-high in points despite missing so many games.
Rust was prolific in the postseason. During the Penguins’ first-round series loss to the New York Rangers, he recorded eight points (two goals, six assists) in seven games.
On May 21, Rust signed a six-year contract extension.
The future: There really aren’t many questions about Rust’s future, at least in the immediate sense. His place on the top line as franchise center Sidney Crosby’s preferred right winger is secured as is his role on the top power-play unit.
His blend of speed, tenacity, intelligence and scoring touch make him a perfect fit on Crosby’s line. Additionally, he has shown enough malleability to play with other centers and on the left wing.
The only real concern is Rust’s durability. It certainly was put to the test this past season. And now that he’s on the other side of 30, those concerns are fairly amplified.
But for the time being, Bryan Rust is back where he belongs.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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