Justin Brazeau Speaks Out After Penguins Suspend Top Prospect
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Following yesterday's suspension of Penguins' top prospect Emil Pieniniemi, forward Justin Brazeau spoke out and said that the ECHL is an important league.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Justin Brazeau is the living, breathing proof that the ECHL league is the ultimate stepping stone to the NHL, and he won't mind saying it publicly.
His comments follow a report that Penguins prospect Emil Pieniniemi has been suspended for an indefinite period of time for not reporting to the team's ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers.
The 2023 third-round pick decided to instead return to Finland due to a disagreement with the organization's developmental plans for him, as Pittsburgh wanted him playing meaningful minutes at Wheeling instead of a specialty role for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Pieniniemi likely felt that he belonged at the very least in the AHL, not in the ECHL, although he hasn't personally commented on the matter yet.
Justin Brazeau believes the ECHL is the reason he is where he's at today
Brazeau, who once faced a similar crossroads, spoke openly about how the ECHL shaped his career to where he is today.
"My first year when I was there, we were an ECHL team but we weren't really an ECHL team," Brazeau said. "We were pretty good. They did a really good job making sure, one, we were treated amazingly. The skill development when we were there, the skill skates, we'd always have guys flying in from (the Maple Leafs) to help us out. Obviously, it benefited a lot.
"Then, just the chance to be able to play. At the time, there was only 10 forwards allowed in the lineup and you're playing a lot more minutes than you would be. You're put in situations you might not get in your first couple of (professional seasons) in a crowded lineup."
"Both there years I was in the ECHL, I was on (AHL) deals," Brazeau said. "No matter what, (the NHL) already felt kind of far away. My first year, I didn't really see it that way too, too much. I knew going in that when I signed the (AHL) deal, they had a pretty crowded depth chart.
"It definitely feels far away but it's just one of those things that you've got to work through."
"Then, just the chance to be able to play. At the time, there was only 10 forwards allowed in the lineup and you're playing a lot more minutes than you would be. You're put in situations you might not get in your first couple of (professional seasons) in a crowded lineup."
"Both there years I was in the ECHL, I was on (AHL) deals," Brazeau said. "No matter what, (the NHL) already felt kind of far away. My first year, I didn't really see it that way too, too much. I knew going in that when I signed the (AHL) deal, they had a pretty crowded depth chart.
"It definitely feels far away but it's just one of those things that you've got to work through."
The undrafted winger began his pro journey in 2019-20 with the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers and credited those years for teaching him how to handle the grind of pro hockey.
Brazeau believes it's a good league. He believes that if you put in the work, you'll be rewarded with a lot of ice time, and teams will start to take notice.
Brazeau's ascension from the ECHL to a regular NHL spot is proof that the path works, and shows that Pieniniemi's decision to forgo reporting could haunt him.
Wheeling has been a central developmental hub for Penguins GM Kyle Dubas that serves to develop players into future NHLers.
For the next generation of prospects, the Brazeau mantra teaches this lesson: the trek to the majors is not always glamorous, but the ECHL is very frequently a stepping stone to those who want to become full-time NHL players.
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