The Pittsburgh Penguins are off to a strong start this season, boasting a promising 5-2-0 record, thanks in part to their new right winger, Justin Brazeau. Signed on July 1 after a season with the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild, the 27-year-old has already made a significant impact. Brazeau recorded 22 points in 76 games during his first full NHL season, before being traded from Boston to Minnesota.
In just seven games with the Penguins, Brazeau has emerged as a key player, scoring five goals and recording eight points. Notably, he has points in five of those seven games, including a stunning two goals in the season opener and three points in a recent match. Currently, Brazeau leads the team in goals and shares second place in points with Sidney Crosby, trailing only Evgeni Malkin, who has ten points. Remarkably, Brazeau is achieving this success while averaging just 13 minutes and 7 seconds of ice time per game.
The Penguins’ general manager and president of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas, faces an intriguing decision with Brazeau, who is signed to a two-year contract worth $1.5 million annually. If Brazeau’s performance continues at this level, Dubas may want to keep him for the long haul, potentially securing a valuable asset as the team works to develop a new core of players.
However, with Brazeau lacking no-trade or no-move protection, trading him while his value is on the rise might serve the franchise’s interests better. Dubas’s mandate is to build for both the present and the future, making Brazeau a potentially attractive trade asset. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 232 pounds, he brings not only scoring ability but physicality to the ice, currently ranking third on the team with 12 hits.
As the trade deadline approaches, Dubas must consider Brazeau’s trajectory. If the forward’s numbers revert to last season’s levels, the value Pittsburgh can command in a trade will diminish. The Penguins could expect a return greater than what the Bruins received last season in the trade that brought him to Pittsburgh, which included Jakub Lauko, Marat Khusnutdinov, and a sixth-round pick.
Thus, it’s crucial for Dubas to explore the market for Brazeau’s services soon, as his ongoing success could present the Penguins with a dilemma: to retain him for a brighter future or take advantage of his current performance to acquire assets with higher long-term potential. While the team is pleased with Brazeau’s contributions, this relationship may be temporary, underscoring the ever-changing landscape of the NHL.
For fans looking for more action-packed content, they can access the entire magazine archive and receive a free issue by subscribing to The Hockey News. The latest news and trending stories are also available through their newsletter, providing continuous updates from the hockey world.