Confirmed with Link: Penguins re-sign Bryan Rust (4 years, $3.5 million AAV)

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A touch more than I'd have liked per year, by like $500k or so, but not bad. I think Rust is as underrated player as far as importance to this team goes, so having him around for several more years is great.

See ya, Sheary. Good riddance.

 

[seabs926]

It's a fair deal, but I think it shows a trend for JR. He's done a great job overall as a GM, but he rarely gets the better of the contract vs the player. Not a terrible thing as pissing off players in contract negotiations has risk involved, but it would be nice to get a few bargain contracts on proven players.

He just did on Dumo.

 

[Gurglesons]

It's a fair deal, but I think it shows a trend for JR. He's done a great job overall as a GM, but he rarely gets the better of the contract vs the player. Not a terrible thing as pissing off players in contract negotiations has risk involved, but it would be nice to get a few bargain contracts on proven players.

He also is showing the Shero thing where he is attached to the Cup winner players that are tough decisions. Dumo, Schultz, Rust, and Sheary.

 

[Beauner]

He also is showing the Shero thing where he is attached to the Cup winner players that are tough decisions. Dumo, Schultz, Rust, and Sheary.

The difference is that those guys are young and should have good years left in them. They're not over the hill like Adams, Scuderi, Dupuis, etc.

 

[66-30-33]

Good, now to re-sign Hagelin after July 1st to a lower AAV.

 

[Gurglesons]

The difference is that those guys are young and should have good years left in them. They're not over the hill like Adams, Scuderi, Dupuis, etc.

Chicago and LA have had major issues from signing young players that performed on cup teams. I also did not include Hornqvist as well.

 

[wej20]

He also is showing the Shero thing where he is attached to the Cup winner players that are tough decisions. Dumo, Schultz, Rust, and Sheary.

None of those players are unmovable though. In the case of Dumo and Schultz it isn't like we had a flood of defensive prospects that were ready to fill those roles.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Sorry, had to spend some time with my Rust Body Pillow, in celebration.

 

[PensPlz]

Yikes.

 

[Gurglesons]

None of those players are unmovable though. In the case of Dumo and Schultz it isn't like we had a flood of defensive prospects that were ready to fill those roles.

They aren’t “unmovable”, but are being paid good contracts for winning the cup.

I guess if you believe our forward group and top four D moving forward can win another it is fine.

 

[NMK11]

Seems like a fair deal with neither side clearly wining. I sort of assume I side more with the team, so if I would have preferred a little less AAV then this is likely his value.

Also agree with some of what others are saying, signing Rust to this contract seems like the writing is on the wall to move a contract. Unless this team is giving up on Sprong either Hags or Sheary has got to go.

 

[turd]

Look up how much wingers hovering around 45pts a season get paid. Then how many of those can pk (successfully) and play either a defensive or offensive role on any line? Rust < 4M is a steal imo.

Hovering around 45 points and scoring 45 points are two different things. His career PPG translates to 35 points in an 82 game season. And he probably only averages like 65 games per season, which is an even lesser amount of points. And where does he even fit? Fourth line RW? Third line LW? Not exactly big time point production lines there. And with minimal PP time. He’s going to have to really show me something for me to get on board with this deal.

 

[Andy99]

I think someone is going to have to move from RW to LW after this deal because I can’t see Rust playing on the fourth line at that price and Sprong is not best used on the fourth line....

Since Rust is better at RW, I hope Sully tries Sprong at LW...as a RH shot, he might even be better defensively there....

 

[KIRK]

I think someone is going to have to move from RW to LW after this deal because I can’t see Rust playing on the fourth line at that price and Sprong is not best used on the fourth line....

Since Rust is better at RW, I hope Sully tries Sprong at LW...as a RH shot, he might even be better defensively there....

Rust shouldn't be on the LW. He's a possession driver and good 200 foot player on the RW, not even close to as much on the LW.

 

[Andy99]

Rust shouldn't be on the LW. He's a possession driver and good 200 foot player on the RW, not even close to as much on the LW.

Agree...that’s what I said....I’d like Sully to try Sprong at LW

 

[wheelz87]

Little high on the AAV but whatever. I love Rust, glad he's sticking around.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

He also is showing the Shero thing where he is attached to the Cup winner players that are tough decisions. Dumo, Schultz, Rust, and Sheary.

None of those guys are over paid, if anything, he's got them at market value or a little less than. That's actually what you call a magnificent GM with getting that shit done because on the open market, those guys would have received more. Even Sheary, getting 18 goals on a bad year for 3m/yr is better than most trash people pay way more. People need to pump their hate breaks a little.

JR has done a great job with those contracts so far. It's just a numbers game, Sheary has to go if you want the balance on D that he wants. Unfortunately. Oh and Sheahan being a fantastic bottom 6 C needs to be kept.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Agree...that’s what I said....I’d like Sully to try Sprong at LW

Rust is actually half decent at LW and he won't try him there for more than a few games, but then he'll play Horny on LW and Kessel on LW for absolutely no logical reason at all.

Good luck with that hope.

 

[Gurglesons]

None of those guys are over paid, if anything, he's got them at market value or a little less than. That's actually what you call a magnificent GM with getting that **** done because on the open market, those guys would have received more. Even Sheary, getting 18 goals on a bad year for 3m/yr is better than most trash people pay way more. People need to pump their hate breaks a little.

JR has done a great job with those contracts so far. It's just a numbers game, Sheary has to go if you want the balance on D that he wants. Unfortunately. Oh and Sheahan being a fantastic bottom 6 C needs to be kept.

Cool. Can’t wait to see your mind change in two years

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Cool. Can’t wait to see your mind change in two years

I haven't with Schultz.
I haven't with Sheary.
I haven't with Dumoulin.
And I sure as shit never will with Rust.

 

[wej20]

They aren’t “unmovable”, but are being paid good contracts for winning the cup.

I guess if you believe our forward group and top four D moving forward can win another it is fine.

So what would you have done? tried to sign replacements through Free Agency?

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Re: Sheary.

Let's look at his goals, out of his 18, 16 were ES.

Draisaitl had 16
Zuccarello had 15
Athanasiou had 15
Voracek had 15
Nelson had 15

Etc.

Sheary might be crap here, but if you actually look at his numbers, his situation, etc, without the bias, he's a solid bottom 6 depth winger that can produce well at even strength.

A lot of wingers suffered on the Pens with the constant shifting, the biggest issue for me was that, constant changes when it wasn't so much that as the problem as it was the system needing adjustments and the coaching staff failed miserably there. I have no issues with the players, because if they were kept on a line and given units to stick with, which was supposedly "the plan" but never f***ing stuck, we'd see better production.

The team/staff was all about "2-man units with 1 interchangeable winger" and well, that was a flat out lie last season.

 

[Shockmaster]

Agree...that’s what I said....I’d like Sully to try Sprong at LW

Sullivan might try Sprong in the pressbox since the coaching staff loves Simon so much.

 

[Ryder71]

Can't complain. 3.5m is a tad more than I expected, but he's earned it.

I'm mildly surprised it's that much. I thought three million per was very fair. I guess because we got a four year deal it raised the Annual average salary.

 

[molon labe]

Hovering around 45 points and scoring 45 points are two different things. His career PPG translates to 35 points in an 82 game season. And he probably only averages like 65 games per season, which is an even lesser amount of points. And where does he even fit? Fourth line RW? Third line LW? Not exactly big time point production lines there. And with minimal PP time. He’s going to have to really show me something for me to get on board with this deal.

That's the beauty of Rust. He fits anywhere. KIRK may hate him on Sid's wing - but he has shown chemistry there before. Players have their ups and downs and I'm not sure anyone outside of Hags/Horny/Malkin (Edit: Horny and Malkin actually didn't come into their own until Spring) and Sid/Guentzel have shown consistent chemistry night in and night out. There were times when Sheary looked lost with Sid and times he looked like he could read his mind. Neal had his moments with Geno and plenty of absolute idiotic moments in between.

I personally hate hedging bets on guys who only fit in one part of the lineup. That's where teams fail - because guys will have off nights / off series and/or injuries...then what? When Sheary left Sid he went through a nasty slump..THAT'S a case of a guy getting overpaid. Kessel in this past playoffs? Does anyone have the true answer? He looked f'n terrible away from Geno. I'd much rather have guys like Rust, Hornqvist, and Hags who can be moved up and down the lineup - without complaint - when needed. Gives coach flexibility which believe it or not helps you win hockey games. Sully doesn't change things up just for shts and gigs. We got worked this year because we had no legs and Trotz figured out how to best us outside of the top line.

It's a mindset thing that some folks around here have - that I honestly don't understand. Which is fine I'm not bashing it. I just prefer not to spend eternity moaning about finding the 'perfect' wing for Sid or Geno, when you've got a cheap guy who causes NO drama signing at freakin 3.5 mil. How in the world does that translate to Sprong (@750k) moving? Rust is a known commodity - which is perhaps where this griping is coming from (folks who need change for the sake of change - mistaking change for progress) - we know what we're getting out of him and what he can bring, yet we'd rather take a chance on someone else? And for what? Maybe 1M savings?