Rumor: Rust on the trade block

A major change may be coming to the Pittsburgh Penguins - it's been the talk of the town for a couple of weeks now. Ian Cole, Carl Hagelin, Riley Sheahan... several names are out there, and it's already a well-known fact that GM Jim Rutherford would like to shore up the bottom 6, particularly with the addition of a reliable third line center.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Jason Mackey believes that Bryan Rust is a possibility on the block, among many other names.

"I think they would love to get someone to take Hagelin. Cole's an attractive option, I would imagine. Rust, too," Mackey wrote.

Mackey, addressing a reader who asked about what players could be involved in the "major shakeup" that Rutherford alluded to this week, said that "the guys I would look at include: Sheahan, Hagelin, Cole, Rust, Kuhnhackl and Sheary."

Rust was drafted in the 3rd round in 2010 and has been an important part of the team. His speed and determination make him a fit on any line across the lineup with the winger scoring some critical goals in the team's two Stanley Cup runs.

Rust is not the type of player that Rutherford would ideally like to trade, but he's shown himself capable of making big changes when necessary, and very few players are safe.

Rutherford's comments this week have caused some concern around the locker room, but Rust did not appear shocked by the news that a trade could come soon.

“I think everyone in here was already aware of that,” Bryan Rust said to The Athletic's Josh Yohe. “It's the nature of the business. Things aren't going well right now. We understand the way it goes when a team doesn't play well.”

There are a lot of scenarios out there right now, compounded by the fact that the Ottawa Senators may have entered fire-sale mode and have some pieces that could be worth Rutherford's while.

Do you think the Penguins should hold on to Rust?