The Pittsburgh Penguins got differing performances out of their top two right wings.

The top six forwards of the Pittsburgh Penguins were far and away the most successful position group for the team in 2022-23. While each of them had flaws, the top right wings for the Penguins put together two solid seasons.

2022-23 Penguins player reviews continue with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust.

Rickard Rakell

Rakell was the Penguins' shiny new toy this season. The fresh face from the 2022 trade deadline signed a six-year contract with the Penguins heading into the 2022-23 season and raised the expectations for his first full season as a Penguin.

With those increased expectations came increased importance to head coach Mike Sullivan. Rakell became Sullivan's most movable piece, adapting well wherever he was deployed, especially alongside Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel.

Rakell finished the 2022-23 season with the second-highest point total in his career (60) and his third-highest goal total (28). His role with the team continued to grow throughout the season as he saw more time on the top power play unit, scoring 11 goals on the man advantage this season.

Rakell figures to be one of the Penguins' most valuable assets heading into his third season in Pittsburgh.

Bryan Rust

It was an intriguing year for the Penguins' reliable winger. On the surface, Rust struggled to reach the heights of the past three seasons in which he flirted with 30 goals despite topping out at 60 games just once.

However, looking deeper at Rust's season explains why the 30-year-old winger finished with his lowest goal total since 2018-19.

Rust was a jack of all trades but master of none for the Penguins in 2022-23, playing significant minutes on both the penalty kill and second power play unit. However, his total ice time dropped to its lowest since 2018-19, averaging 17:54 of ice time.

Being supplanted on the top power play took a toll on his goal-scoring totals. After scoring nine, six, and eight power play goals over the past three seasons, Rust finished this year with two. Combine that with his sub-ten percent shooting percentage, and you get what appears to be an underperforming season.

Rust's role shifted with the Penguins out of necessity as they lost a handful of penalty-killing forwards and began utilizing Rakell more in high-leverage offensive situations. Despite those circumstances, Rust finished the year with his fourth consecutive 20-goal season.

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