Leafs Rumored to Target Penguins Veteran After Quiet Response to Marner Departure
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
According to Sportsnet's Sonny Sachdeva, the Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to pursue Bryan Rust from the Penguins after not doing much to replace Mitch Marner.
Time is ticking for both Brad Treliving and Kyle Dubas to make a move, with the former trying to add a top-six punch to his rotation, meanwhile the latter is trying his best to dump as much veteran help as possible in order to try for 2026's ultimate prize: Gavin McKenna.
While there is still time before training camp we are only about a month and a half away from it kicking off, and teams are going to more than likely want their lineups set before then.
Toronto's Getting Rusty? Pittsburgh Forward Linked to Maple Leafs
There's also been a lot of discussion about the two working together, and for Sportsnet's Sonny Sachdeva, they could come to a very amicable agreement.
In his article regarding potential landing spots for both Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell he wrote about the Maple Leafs:
Since moving on from Mitch Marner, the Maple Leafs have brought in a number of depth pieces to fill out the club's forward corps, but they have yet to replace the offensive production and creativity lost with No. 16's departure.
Toronto still has plenty of high-end offensive pieces on the roster, but given the club was linked to Andrew Mangiapane and Jack Roslovic earlier this summer, it seems Treliving and Co. may still be hunting for a more impactful addition.
Either Rust or Rakell could slot in as a top-six piece with a bit more scoring pedigree, pushing one of the other recent additions into a needed depth role.
Toronto still has plenty of high-end offensive pieces on the roster, but given the club was linked to Andrew Mangiapane and Jack Roslovic earlier this summer, it seems Treliving and Co. may still be hunting for a more impactful addition.
Either Rust or Rakell could slot in as a top-six piece with a bit more scoring pedigree, pushing one of the other recent additions into a needed depth role.
The names he suggested as a depth role include Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy and Matias Maccelli. While Roy is slotted as the 3C and Maccelli will likely play somewhere in the top-six, Joshua might be one sliding down.
Which isn't all bad news considering how deep the team is now, but they do still need to trade Calle Jarnkrok, David Kampf, and/or Max Domi in order to make the money work to bring either man in.
But let's focus solely on Rust given his storied career and experience playing with top level talent.
First Sidney, Now Auston? Why Bryan Rust Makes Sense
Rust has been the quintessential linemate for Sidney Crosby over the last few seasons and what a wonder it's done for him.
He went from 18 goals in 2018-19 to 27 goals the season after, and not hitting under 20 goals since.
Last year he poured in career highs with 31 goals and 65 points; and this was for a middling Penguins team who just never got their feet off the ground and he's very sound defensively.
He thrives playing next to elite level talent, and if Toronto brought him in, boy does he have his share.
Toronto could slide him up top with Auston Matthews and give him a younger, more scoring focused version of Sidney Crosby. We know that Rust can be a solid playmaker so helping out Matthews isn't a stretch.
Or he gets put on the second line, where oh, he gets to play with William Nylander and John Tavares; the latter being one of the greatest centres over the last decade.
It shouldn't really matter where he plays because he can make an impact, and while he's not a playoff demon, he does have 35 points in 79 games and won two Stanley Cups.
So what more can be said? Bryan Rust makes perfect sense for the Maple Leafs given his ability to play with elite talent, consistent scoring ability, and his playoff experience.
Chalk that up as a win for Toronto, but also for Kyle Dubas as he accelerates his rebuild just a bit quicker.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 1 | 1647 ANSWERS Leafs Rumored to Target Penguins Veteran After Quiet Response to Marner Departure Should the Maple Leafs go after Bryan Rust or pursue another top-six forward? | ||
| Rust all the way baby!!! | 991 | 60.2 % |
| Someone else better! | 656 | 39.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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