Penguins Divisional Rival Tied to Bryan Rust in Trade Talks

It is likely going to be a busy off-season for the New Jersey Devils and general manager Tom Fitzgerald, who was honest following the team's short playoff run, stating that he will be making changes to the Devils' roster this summer because he felt the team was not good enough.

Due to this, one important and key area that Fitzgerald could look to improve is the Devils' top six. It is apparent that they could use another top-six winger, and the Pittsburgh Penguins have the perfect option to consider in Bryan Rust.

Rust, age 33, has been creating plenty of chatter in the rumor mill all season long. It is understandable, as the Penguins are rebuilding their group, and Rust's full no-movement clause expires on July 1, which will further add to the rumors.

The Penguins will soon have the freedom to move him without any potential restrictions as of July.

When looking at the season Rust just put together, it is clear that he would be a major addition to the Devils' top-six group. In 71 games, the 5-foot-11 winger set new career highs with 31 goals and a total of 65 points.

With numbers like these, he could be a great fit on the Devils' second line and would work on their power play. Additionally, due to his solid defensive play, he could also offer the Devils another option for their penalty kill.

Another very appealing factor about Rust is that he has a very manageable $5.125 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season. He would be more than a one-year rental for the Devils if acquired this off-season, which would be a major plus.

Overall, with the Devils needing more skill and offensive production, bringing in a player of the caliber of Rust would certainly be significant for the team.

It will be worth watching to see how they navigate things when free agency and no-trade clauses are dropped as of July 1st.