Bryan Rust Breaks Silence on Penguins Trade Rumors - Reveals Emotional Plea About His Future
Photo credit: NHL.com
Penguins' Bryan Rust sat down and spoke with NHL insider Josh Yohe, where he emotionally revealed how he wants to stay in Pittsburgh long-term.
Bryan Rust has spent a decade with the Penguins, collecting two Stanley Cups and a lifetime of financial security. But this summer, he lost his no-movement protection status, putting his future in the hands of general manager Kyle Dubas.
A trade might yield worthwhile young assets, but Rust is hoping to show that he deserves to remain a Penguin. His value extends beyond goals and assists: leadership is where he really excels.
He was a young kid learning from the old veterans, such as Matt Cullen previously. Rust is now passing on to the young guns what he learned. He doesn't have a letter on his sleeve, but everyone looks up to him. His dedication is also commendable.
The coach who trusted him, Mike Sullivan, is no longer present. The front office that drafted and signed him is all gone. Even the owners have changed.
Bryan Rust Really Hopes That Kyle Dubas Won't Trade Him This Season
But Rust's devotion is still attached to the logo on the front of the jersey, and he hopes he doesn't leave the city and team, as he made an emotional plea when he sat down with NHL insider Josh Yohe.
"I don't want to speak for other guys in this room who have been around, even though I assume they feel the same," Rust said. "But for me, personally, it's just about the organization. This is the organization that gave me a chance. They took a chance on me a long time ago. A lot of people thought I was never going to develop into an NHL player, but they took that chance on me and they stood by me for a long time. Now I'm an NHL player because of that."
On the ice, his statistics tell the story: 203 career goals, 21 playoff goals, and 323 points in 385 games over the past half-decade.
He's matured from a clutch depth scorer to a top-line contributor, even being named to the U.S. Olympic team consideration list.
Rust himself is more hopeful about the Penguins than other observers are. Despite oddsmakers giving them only a nine percent chance to make the playoffs, he scorns the naysayers.
Besides Crosby, Malkin, and Letang, Rust is among the final holdovers from the Penguins' championship era, and at 32 years of age, he might be the very last.
For Rust, being in Pittsburgh isn't about contracts and ownership. It's about pride, history, and being able to keep on fighting for more in black and gold.
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