The Chicago Blackhawks have made it clear with their roster moves this offseason that they want to be better in 2026-27. They most notably acquired Bowen Byram in a blockbuster trade with the Buffalo Sabres and also reunited with Patrick Kane. The Original Six also added other players to their roster this summer, like Ian Cole, Cole Smith, and Jordan Greenway.
With these moves, the Blackhawks are hoping that they will finally take a step forward in their rebuild. However, when looking at their current roster, it is clear that they would be wise to bring in at least one more winger to strengthen their top six.
One trade candidate who would make a lot of sense for the Blackhawks to target because of this is Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust. Questions about the 34-year-old winger's future with the Penguins have come up since last summer, and he would be a major pickup for a Blackhawks team that needs more offense.
Due to this, we here at Heavy Sports have a trade pitch that has the Blackhawks acquiring Rust from the Penguins in a big swap.
Blackhawks Get:
Bryan Rust
Penguins Get:
2027 First-Round Pick (From Florida Panthers )
John Mustard
Ethan Del Mastro
With this trade, the Blackhawks would be acquiring a veteran forward in Rust who would undoubtedly improve their roster immediately. The Penguins, on the other hand, would get a first-round pick and two promising young players in Mustard and Del Mastro.
With the Blackhawks being in need of another high-impact winger, it would make a lot of sense if they made a serious push for Rust. The Pontiac, Michigan native would help their offense nicely, and his recent stats show this. In 72 games last season with the Penguins, he posted 29 goals, 36 assists, and 65 points. This was after he scored a career-high 31 goals and recorded 65 points in 71 games for the Penguins in 2024-25.
With numbers like these, Rust would undoubtedly be a big addition to the Blackhawks' top six if acquired. The veteran winger could slot very nicely on the Blackhawks' top line but also work on their second line if needed. Furthermore, due to his strong two-way play, he would give the Blackhawks another player who could work on both their power play and their penalty kill.
With the Blackhawks looking to finally take a step forward, it would make a lot of sense for them to make a bold move for a star forward like Rust. The Blackhawks simply need more talent if they hope to compete for a playoff spot next year, and bringing in a forward like Rust could help things on that front.
Rust would also be a very valuable addition to the Blackhawks' roster because of his leadership and experience. Keep in mind, he has won the Stanley Cup twice in his career. Bringing in another proven winner could be exactly what helps the Blackhawks take that next step.
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This article was originally published on HEAVY
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