Yeah, I can’t see the Canes doing that. Rust’s 3 years prior to this season were really good, but he has already shown signs of regression. Not to mention with him being signed until he is 36, and the Canes already having a pretty full stock at RW, it doesn’t make that much sense. Maybe if the Pens and/or a 3rd party are willing to retain about half of his salary the Canes might do it. I doubt he would be given much opportunity in the top 6 above guys like Jarvis, Necas, Svechnikov, Teravainen, Pacioretty, and other young wingers that might get elevated like Gunler, Koivunen, Blake, and Trikozov.

So unless the odds are high enough that he can at least maintain his current offense in a 3rd line role, I don’t think the Canes go and spend big on Rust. Personally, I would be surprised if the Canes move their 23 1st rounder at all.

Preds likely pass. It's close though.

Pac's career is done. CAR has a scoring issue. Rust addresses that. Rust hasn't shown any sign of regression. He had an off season, that's all. It happens to players and EVERY YEAR there's a handful of players this happens, everyone on here says they're done, and next year they're right back at it. Mind you, his off season was 20 goals and 46 points lol. Remember that one guy... what's his name? Oh yeah, Jason Zucker. The one every non-Penguin fan on here stating we'd have to add a 1st to him to move him and that his career is over? Rust is fine.

Canes would be foolish to turn this down.

I think it's a solid deal. I'm sure some tweaking gets closer, but it wouldn't take much more.

I see we have another person playing the scoring problem card. Guess what happens when multiple regulars in the top 6 get injured. They don’t have a scoring problem, they have an injury problem.

As for Rust, he would be an upgrade on Martinook offensively, but a complete downgrade in the locker room and defensively. In terms of risk vs reward, Rust doesn’t provide enough reward to spend that much and play him on the 3rd line for the majority of the season. Frankly, at that point, with the likely production that Rust would have in that scenario, there are cheaper and potentially better options that would be able to put up the same amount of offense as Rust would likely put up, at least in this hypothetical scenario.

As for Patches career being done, you can’t be sure of that. Hell, Noesen had 2 knee or Achilles injuries (don’t remember which one off the top of my head) in the 2013-14 season, with it being reinjured/reaggravated in I believe 2018, and yet he is performing just fine. Will Patches be the same offensively after his 2 Achilles injuries, maybe not, but there is no guarantee that he will call it quits.

Man do you have some bad takes. Really bad takes.