PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – If Bryan Rust was going to make it in the NHL, it was going to be as a bottom six grinder. That was the talk when the Pens drafted the 5’11” forward in 2010. His goal Sunday afternoon clinched a seventh straight season of at least 20 goals.
“I’m proud of that from where I started as a non-offensive threat into doing it seven years, I think I’m really proud of that,” Rust said. “Got to give a lot of credit to the guys I’ve been with, the teams I’ve been on. I’ve worked hard at it, it’s been fun.”
Rust’s goal Sunday was nothing fancy, but like so many of his opportunities, it’s knowing where to be. The 33-year-old found the loose puck after an Erik Karlsson shot and elevated it over the goalie. There wasn’t much room, but his quick hands allowed him to gather and lift to make it 3-0.
“My ability to be able to read the offense and read when to go in and read when to wait in the weeds,” Rust said. “It’s something I’ve adapted over the years and continue to work on.”
The streak could be eight seasons. The Michigan native scored 18 goals in 2018-19, but missed 10 games that season. He scored 27 goals the next season in just 55 games and 22 in 56 games the year after that.
The forward’s best season was 2024-25, 31 goals in 71 games and finished with 65 points.
But it’s more than just the goals and the assists.
“He’s one of those guys you always have to worry about when you are coaching against him, because you know he’s going to bring it on a nightly basis,” said first-year Pens head coach Dan Muse. “You know he’s one of those guys that finds a way to make some big play, whether it’s offensively or defensively and just hard to play against.”
“When you are coaching against him, you are like ‘I’d love to have him on our team’. When you get to know the person, no surprise for why he’s been doing what he does.”
“Not only is he gifted offensively, but I think showing the mark of a leader being heavy in the defensive zone,” said goalie Arturs Silovs. “I think he’s doing a tremendous job of putting the energy and effort there. I think there is a lot to be inspired from.”
“As a coach, he’s one of those guys you love working with every day,” Muse added. “You know what you are going to get. You know he’s going to do everything he can on any given night to help the team win. Selfless.”
Muse said with Sidney Crosby out, or earlier when it was Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang, when one of those captains or assistant captains miss time and he gets the ‘A’ on his jersey, it’s something that is earned. He’s a leader in that room, often more by example even than words.
“It’s become pretty clear to me the level of respect he has from his teammates and everyone in this organization,” Muse said.