And recently re-signed Jared McCann has shown past success as a winger with Crosby. Also, alienating Malkin by trading another of his wingers (see: James Neal and Phil Kessel, previously) would be a curious decision.īut veteran Patric Hornqvist is available to move into a top-six role on the right side. The same qualities that have other GMs interested also benefit the Penguins, who remain in win-now mode based upon Rutherford’s words and actions. Trading Rust would not come without risks. However, as the hot stove continues to heat up in advance of the NHL Entry Draft and start of free agency, there is a growing sense Rust might draw an offer Rutherford deems too good to pass up, the league sources said. Rutherford and coach Mike Sullivan value Rust’s chemistry with Malkin, and also captain Sidney Crosby. In addition to being viewed as a bargain by GMs, Rust is held in high regard by coaches because he has excelled as a role player on the Penguins’ 2016 and ’17 title teams (13 goals combined as a bottom-six winger those postseasons) but also shown himself to be a fit with top centers (27 goals in 55 games mostly spent on Evgeni Malkin’s wing). Rust’s two years of remaining term at a $3.5 million annual cap hit is attractive to GMs looking to enhance their club’s championship credentials as well as those seeking to not lose ground among playoff contenders, the league sources said. Instead, they are seeking to acquire established players on short-term contracts via trade. Given the NHL’s current financial outlook because of lost ticket revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic, even big-revenue clubs are wary of playing the free-agent market.
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