This year’s NHL Draft in Los Angeles brings back memories for Bryan Rust, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2010 at what was then the Staples Center. Reflecting on his early days, Rust humorously recalls photos from that time, particularly one where he emerges from a set of curtains.
Now at 33 years old, Rust has achieved significant milestones in his career. This season, he scored a personal best of 31 goals and became the ninth player in Penguins history to reach 400 points with the franchise. Additionally, he played his 600th game with Pittsburgh. Rust is also a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, having won titles in 2016 and 2017. He is part of the core leadership group alongside Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.
Reflecting on his journey, Rust said, “Obviously, that’s the dream, and that’s the hope, and that’s the goal.” He expressed surprise at how his career has unfolded: “I don’t think I would have expected this… It’s something that I’ve embraced.”
Rust’s path to becoming a consistent scorer wasn’t straightforward. In his draft year with the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP), expectations were not high. Yet he managed to prove himself by scoring 23 points during the 2009-10 campaign. “I was out to prove people wrong,” Rust noted about playing without much attention due to other highly-touted teammates.
The process leading up to being drafted was exciting for Rust as he had strong performances and engaged frequently with Tom Fitzgerald and Brian Fitzgerald from the Penguins’ management team. Brian Fitzgerald recalled Rust as “the consistent kid” who competed well and made responsible plays.
On draft day in Los Angeles, Rust shared moments with his parents after being selected by Pittsburgh in the third round. Despite not attending that year’s NHL Draft Combine, he still achieved an impressive selection position: “If you didn’t go to the combine… You can still get drafted relatively high,” Rust said.
Looking back on his draft experience and subsequent success with gratitude towards Ray Shero for drafting him, Rust acknowledges his parents’ support throughout his journey: “They’ve been there in your corner every step of the way.”
Offering advice to aspiring players facing similar situations today, Rust emphasized perseverance: “It doesn’t really matter where you go… You always got to keep working.”
