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Penguins' Bryan Rust Linked to Hometown Red Wings in Mock Trade
Photo credit: Pittsburgh Hockey Now
Bryan Rust has been a star in Pittsburgh for a long time, but in the latest mock trade, the Penguins veteran gets dealt to his home town Red Wings for a haul.
Coming into this off-season, Bryan Rust was seen as one of the Penguins best trade assets, and while speculation has surrounded him, GM Kyle Dubas is yet to make a move involving the star veteran.
Several top teams in the NHL have been linked to the 33-year old, and while nothing has come to fruition yet, the expectation is that the Penguins will likely move him before the 2026 trade deadline.
Could Rust Be the Missing Piece for Detroit's Playoff Push?
One team that could be interested in the Michigan native is the Detroit Red Wings, a team that find themselves on the cusp of breaking their Stanley Cup Playoffs drought in 2025/26.
Now, The Score have put together a mock trade that would see Rust land with his hometown team, while also seeing the Penguins land significant assets to continue and push their rebuild forward.
Penguins receive:
F Jonatan Berggren
D William Wallinder
Top-10 protected 2026 1st-round pick
Red Wings receive:
F Bryan Rust
F Jonatan Berggren
D William Wallinder
Top-10 protected 2026 1st-round pick
Red Wings receive:
F Bryan Rust
Why Pittsburgh Might Cash Out on a Franchise Favorite
Given what he has done for the Penguins, it won't be easy to move Rust, but with the Penguins adding pieces for the future, they simply aren't going to compete, and with Rust now at 33-years of age, the time is now to cash in and get assets for him.
In this proposed deal, Pittsburgh would land two immensely talented prospects and a first-round pick in a loaded 2026 NHL Draft, so if this deal is on the table, it's one that the Penguins would certainly be wise to take.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 27 | 23 ANSWERS Penguins' Bryan Rust Linked to Hometown Red Wings in Mock Trade Would this be a good trade for the Penguins? | ||
| Yes | 4 | 17.4 % |
| No | 19 | 82.6 % |
| List of polls | ||