Why the Maple Leafs should attempt trade for Penguins’ Bryan Rust

The Toronto Maple Leafs should be looking to add another top-six forward before the start of next season, and Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust should be near the top of their list. While doing business with Kyle Dubas may be complicated, it’s something Brad Treliving should be exploring as Rust would be a great fit with the Maple Leafs.

There’s been rumblings throughout the entire offseason that Dubas has been shopping some of his players throughout the summer. The list includes Rust, Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson, Ryan Graves, and goaltender Tristan Jarry, who certainly has some more pressure on him with the Penguins adding up-and-coming goaltender Arturs Silovs recently. Dubas is navigating a tough spot for the franchise as they are in the middle of a transition period from aging core, to trying to find the next wave of talent for the Penguins’ future. Moving Rust would be a significant transaction for the Penguins, as he’s essentially become a secondary legend in Pittsburgh, behind the Malkin, Crosby, Letang, and Fleury’s of the world.

The 33-year-old Rust has spent the past 11 seasons in Pittsburgh, winning two Stanley Cups, and is coming off a 31-goal, 65-point season in 2024-25. He makes perfect sense for the Maple Leafs because of his finishing abilities, something the team seems to lack come playoff time, his work ethic being a strong forechecker, and his capabilities to play major top-six minutes. Rust averaged over 19:30 per game the past two seasons, and with Mitch Marner in Vegas, the Leafs need to add someone to help alleviate the absence, and Rust fits the bill.

Rust’s versatility is also something worth circling. He can kill penalties, contribute on the power play, and is used to playing with high-end talent. He’s potted 21 goals in 79 career postseason games, and isn’t shy of the bright lights of the postseason. The former 2010 third-round pick is also someone who has developed nicely into a more well rounded player throughout his career. He’s had seasons of more than 110 hits, he does his part to block shots when needed, always willing to sacrifice for his teammates. When it comes to ideal fits for the Maple Leafs top line alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, it’s hard to find anyone else who is potentially available that would be a more seamless addition. Rust would complement the dynamic duo, and should Berube decide William Nylander deserves more ice time, Rust on John Tavares’ wing would work to as he’d use his speed on the forecheck to help retrieve pucks for Tavares, and with his offensive instincts, it would be fun to see how much chemistry the two can create.

Rust’s price tag unknown at this point

With three years left at $5.1 million AAV, Dubas is going to ask for quite the return, as there’s a lot to like about the contract to production ratio. Two Maple Leafs that stand out as far as trade candidates go for this deal would be Nick Robertson and Dennis Hildeby. A goaltender Dubas has tracked for several years, and a forward in Robertson who is capable of hitting 25-goals next season with more consistent ice-time. Both players could help provide the next wave of talent for the Penguins. Even with Silovs in the mix now, the Penguins are thin outside of Joel Blomqvist in net, so it wouldn’t shock me to see Dubas try and land another goaltender at some point.

The Maple Leafs would have to include a draft pick of some sort, or one more prospect to get Dubas’ attention. With $5.3 million in cap space, Treliving could make a deal for Rust work financially. There’s also been chatter about David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok being available, so perhaps a player like Jarnkrok would be involved here, as he’d be a veteran who could be a gap-stopper for the Penguins with Rust leaving, and them patiently waiting for the next wave of young talent to make up their core.

Admittedly, seeing the Penguins and Maple Leafs complete a trade together would be borderline shocking considering the executives involved and the history, but as far as ‘fit’ goes, it should be worth exploring for both Treliving and Dubas.