Essentials: Bryan Rust

The 31-year-old winger shared some of his must-haves, both on and off the ice, at home and on the road.

Peanut M&M's

I don't remember how it started. I was probably 16 or 17. I just happened to get them before a game. Nutrition probably wasn't high on my list when I was that age. Assumingly, I had a great night, and I've just kind of been riding it out for 15 years. There's probably been a game or two when I didn't have them, and I think I was in a mental pretzel, so I highly doubt I played very well.

[Note from MC: When I was talking with Rust's old locker stallmate Jason Zucker for his version of this feature, we also discussed candy preferences. Zucker said while he likes chocolate candy, he prefers sweet candy, and always brings some with him on the road (usually Skittles). "So, you're not a peanut M&M guy, like Bryan Rust?" I asked. I got a typical mischievous Zucker response in response: "No, I hate Bryan Rust. So, anything Bryan Rust does, I want to do the opposite," he deadpanned. Gotta love Zuck! Definitely going to miss his big personality, and how he's always ready with jokes and chirps.]

Board games

Settlers of Catan is a big one. I've been into that one forever. But I found a new one last summer, it's called Tapple. It's a fun, quick, word association game.

Paisley prints

When I first started wearing suits to games - I think I was in midgets or something - I had a paisley tie. It was the first tie that I wore, and I wore it to every game. Ever since then, I've loved it. I have quite a few now. I'm trying to veer away a bit, but it's still my go-to.

Cross necklace

I just got it when I was starting to have a family (son Hunter was born in May 2021, and Bryan and his wife Kelsey welcomed his brother Logan this March).

Apple Watch

Day to day, I love wearing my Apple Watch so I don't have to check my phone all the time and everything just goes to the watch. But when I'm going to dinner and doing something a little nicer, I have a Rolex I got as a wedding gift that I wear a lot; or a Breitling watch that me and most of the guys from the 2017 Cup team got as a memento with a special engraving on the back.

Nike Air Max sneakers

I have about six pairs in different colors. The first ones I got are green and gray. My brother got them for me, which was nice.

Soccer ball

We're pretty dialed in with the timing of the pre-meeting soccer game. The JV game, as we call it (laughs). I've been doing that since I came up here. The game has evolved over the years. Tom Kuhnhackl and I, we used to play for about 45 minutes. Now it's evolved, there's a few of us and it's a much shorter game.