Bryan Rust’s status is the one that could sting Pittsburgh the most.
The Penguins forward exited last night’s preseason win over the Buffalo Sabres with an undisclosed injury, and head coach Dan Muse didn’t have an update afterward. That leaves Rust’s availability for Wednesday’s regular-season opener very much up in the air.
Pittsburgh is already juggling a crowded injury list up front. Blake Lizotte has been out of training camp with an upper-body injury, Ben Kindel is week-to-week after a lower-body injury on Monday, and Justin Brazeau is also dealing with a lower-body injury. Now Rust, one of the team’s most important forwards, has joined the list of question marks as the 2026-27 season approaches.
Rust matters because he’s not just another body in the lineup. The 34-year-old is a key offensive piece for Pittsburgh and holds a spot on the first power-play unit.
He has posted 65 points in back-to-back seasons, though he has also missed at least 10 games in each of the last three years. If this latest injury keeps him out, that pattern could start again right away.
There was also encouraging news out of Ottawa. Senators No. 1 defenseman Jake Sanderson left yesterday’s preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens with an injury, which naturally raised concern about his season-opening availability. But head coach Travis Green said after the game that Sanderson’s absence was “precautionary.”
Sanderson has been dealing with an injury, but the early read from Ottawa is that this is not expected to turn into a major setback. That would matter a lot for the Senators, since Sanderson is one of their most valuable skaters. He averaged nearly 25 minutes per game last season, handled both sides of special teams, and scored a career-best 54 points in 67 games.
In Buffalo, Jack Rathbone will miss time of his own. Rochester Americans head coach Mike Leone said the Sabres depth defenseman is week-to-week with a lower-body injury, according to Noted Hockey’s Joe Yerdon. Rathbone was placed on waivers yesterday and is expected to be a regular blueliner for the Amerks in 2026-27.
The 27-year-old spent the last two seasons in Rochester, where he put up 41 points in 112 games. He was once a top prospect in the Vancouver Canucks system, with Scott Wheeler of The Athletic ranking him No. 3 in the organization in 2021, but most of his pro career has come as a steady AHL defenseman.
In Other News...
Penguins Face Tough Opening Night Roster Calls As Deadline Nears
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Pittsburgh now has 32 players left in camp and still needs to get down by nine before the opening day roster deadline. Some of those moves are expected to involve injured reserve or AHL assignments, with the front office also weighing roster designations to stay within the 23-player limit and keep the salary cap in line. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Prospects Made An Early Statement Against Hershey
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Just as encouraging for the Penguins was the way they controlled the other end of the ice, limiting Hershey to 14 shots and getting 11 saves from Taylor Gauthier. Preseason results never tell the whole story, but for a prospect group looking to make an impression, this was the sort of complete effort that gets attention in the building. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Suddenly Face A Depth Problem Before Opening Night
The Penguins are already dealing with a familiar early-season headache, as four players have landed on injured reserve just before opening night. Blake Lizotte is day-to-day and back in full-contact practice, while Justin Brazeau and Benjamin Kindel are both considered week-to-week. Ryan Graves is the biggest concern of the group, with a knee injury leaving his return timeline open-ended.
For a team trying to sort out its lineup right out of the gate, the timing is less than ideal. Pittsburgh will have to absorb those absences in a hurry, and the injuries could force the coaching staff to lean on players who were hoping to earn their way into bigger minutes later rather than sooner. It is the kind of depth test that can shape the first stretch of a season before the schedule really settles in. [Read more 🡒]