Rust Left Off Team USA, No New Penguins Names on Team Canada

The Pittsburgh Penguins got shut out when the United States roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament was announced Wednesday. There had been at least some popular push for winger Bryan Rust to make the squad.

Rust, who plays on the Penguins’ top line centered by Sidney Crosby and has been a fixture in the top six for several seasons, is tied with Crosby for second on the team with eight goals. He has 13 points in 20 games. He missed seven games early this season because of a lower-body injury.

The general manager for Team USA is Minnesota Wild GM and former Penguins player and executive Bill Guerin. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is coaching Team USA. Those connections were not enough to get Rust onto the roster.

One of the wingers on the American team is former Penguins star Jake Guentzel.

The NHL will shut down for the tournament, which will feature the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston.

Six players for each team were previously announced, including two Penguins, Crosby for Canada and defenseman Erik Karlsson for Sweden. The full rosters for Sweden and Finland were announced earlier Wednesday.

No players other than Crosby were named to Team Canada. Barring injury replacements between now and the tournament, no Penguins other than Crosby and Karlsson are pegged to participate in the 4 Nations.

Crosby figures to be part of a dynamic line, perhaps with the likes of Edmonton’s Connor McDavid or Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon.