Justin Brazeau’s place with the Pittsburgh Penguins looks shaky heading into the season, even after he put together the best year of his career.
That sounds like the kind of performance that should lock in a roster spot and maybe even earn more ice time. But Brazeau is in a tougher spot than that. The veteran winger could lose minutes, and he may have to fight just to stay on the team once training camp opens.
Brazeau started last season at a blistering pace, but his second half fell off hard and drifted back toward the level he had shown earlier in his career. The Penguins would like to see him bring that early-season production more consistently. If he doesn’t, it could quickly turn into a problem.
The numbers around his contract make the situation even more interesting. Brazeau is signed through 2027, and he carries a $1.5 million cap hit. That is not a huge number, but if he is not playing regularly on NHL ice, it becomes easier for Pittsburgh to move on.
And the competition is real. Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, and possibly other young wingers are all expected to be in the mix for jobs. That is a crowded runway for a veteran who is already under pressure.
The Penguins are clearly trying to get younger, and Brazeau’s role could be one of the spots affected by that shift. His first three months last season were strong, but after the holiday break, his production tailed off. Losing Evgeni Malkin and Anthony Mantha as linemates may have been part of that drop, since the trio had been working well together.
If Brazeau can’t put together a strong training camp and force his way onto the roster, his time in Pittsburgh could be short-lived. The Penguins could try to trade him for pennies on the dollar, or they could place him on waivers and send him to the AHL if it comes to that. Either way, the hope inside the organization is that one of the younger forwards steps into his spot.
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