The Pittsburgh Penguins will start the season without a key forward.
The Penguins will be missing Bryan Rust for at least two weeks due to a lower-body injury, the team announced Thursday.
The team did not disclose the specifics of how or when Rust sustained the injury.
The 33-year-old scored 31 goals and 65 points in 71 games last season.
Rust's name has been brought up as a potential trade chip for the Penguins to accelerate their retool but the forward has made it clear he would like to stay beyond this season.
“For me, I just want to personally continue that winning culture that’s been in Pittsburgh for so long,” Rust told The Athletic. “That good culture, that good character that’s been here, I want that to be passed along year after year so that culture doesn’t slip. To me, that’s important. To me, that’s a big deal.”
Rust is not a free agent until 2028. He has three seasons left on his deal with a $5.125-million cap hit.
