The Pittsburgh Penguins have entered unfamiliar territory. Once considered a bit of a dynasty under the leadership of Sidney Crosby, that era appears to be in the rear-view mirror. The franchise is now somewhere between a rebuild, a restructuring, and a “stay somewhat competitive while Crosby is still around” mode. It’s a confusing time for Penguins fans.

While several names have surfaced in trade speculation — including Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and even Crosby himself — another potential trade candidate is Bryan Rust.

In an article published by Bleacher Report, the Calgary Flames were listed as a possible landing spot for the veteran forward. Whether or not the Flames are actually interested remains to be seen, but it’s worth examining the pros and cons of such a move. So, let’s do just that.

The Flames need offence. There’s no way around it. It would be irresponsible not to at least consider acquiring a player like Rust.

A third-round pick back in 2010, Rust has spent his entire NHL career with the Penguins’ organization. The 5-foot-11 right-shot winger may not have put up jaw-dropping offensive numbers throughout his career, but he’s been consistently productive.

In 638 career NHL games, Rust has registered 203 goals and 234 assists for 437 points. He’s also coming off a career year. The 33-year-old reached the 30-goal, 30-assist milestone for the first time this past season, notching 31 goals and 34 assists — all while playing on a team that struggled.

Rust is a veteran with extensive playoff experience and has spent years playing alongside one of the game’s all-time greats. That kind of experience is invaluable for a young team hoping to take another step forward in its development.

He still has three years remaining on the six-year contract he signed in 2022. With a cap hit of $5.125 million, he fits within the Flames’ budget and could serve as a steadying veteran presence as other experienced players potentially move on.

It’s difficult to project exactly how Rust would fit into Calgary’s current plans. The Flames are trying to get younger — and bigger. At 33 years old and standing 5-foot-11, Rust doesn’t exactly fit that profile.

According to Pittsburgh Hockey Now, the Penguins reportedly have a high asking price for Rust. They’re seeking a first-round pick plus a young player with upside in return. While the Flames could pay that price, it likely wouldn’t be wise to spend those kinds of assets on an aging forward who may only be around for a couple of seasons.

Rust may be better suited for a team looking to win now. Unfortunately, the Flames aren’t quite there yet. This coming season should provide a clearer picture of where the team stands — and whether last season was an anomaly or the start of a longer-term trend.

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