Penguins/NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins and winger Bryan Rust have agreed to a new four year, $14 million contract.
The deal carries an AAV of $3.5 million.
The #Pens have re-signed Bryan Rust to a four-year contract.
The deal runs through the 2021.22 campaign, and it carries an average annual value of $3.5 million.
More details: https://t.co/tQn2UPLZ9Q pic.twitter.com/KDtB9aHLaE
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 26, 2018
Why the Rust deal is a win for both sides
Despite reports being out there that Rust was offered for Max Domi this month, he never was, and talk Pittsburgh was waiting to sign him, — the 26 year old winger has always been in the Penguins long-term plans this summer. —
Pittsburgh came out of their organizational meetings in early June, eyeing a deal of around four years for Rust, so it’s not surprising to see the deal come in where it did.
A deal beyond two years was always going to cost the Penguins around $3.5 million per.
Is it too much money from the Penguins end?
Not when you look at the whole picture.
This is a player who produces at even strength, can play anywhere in the lineup, including both wings, and Rust is a catalyst of how the Penguins want to play a speed game, most notably on the forecheck. You don’t get rid of those type of players like Rust still in their 20’s, when some of the league has started to catch up to the Penguins speed game.
There’s a reason the Penguins coaching staff and others around the league love the type of game Rust plays and Penguin management obviously agrees. When examining this contract, you can’t overlook how valuable this coaching staff views Rust.
Rust who has 10 goals in 18 career elimination games, was one of the Penguins best possession players 5-on-5 — at 56% last season–, which was tops among Penguins who appeared in 60 or more games. 31 of his 38 points were at even strength, was 5th on the team in creating individual high danger chances and had the best mark on the club with a 57% High Danger Goals For Percentage.
This is not a comparable situation with Conor Sheary who landed a 3 year, $9 million contract last summer as with Sheary if he’s not producing offensively, there’s little impact in other areas.
One reason the Penguins have also felt comfortable for weeks in doing a deal of at least four years is the belief Rust will have sustained To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
