NHL Analyst Reveals the Real Reason Behind Justin Brazeau's Hot Start in Pittsburgh
Photo credit: The Hockey Writers
NHL analyst Carter Hutton believes that Justin Brazeau is having an unbelievable start with the Penguins thanks to Evgeni Malkin playing rejuvenated.
The 2025-26 NHL season may still be in its relatively early stages, but a few players are exceeding expectations for a little longer than many expected, as we turn the calendar to November.
While some rookies have exceeded expectations in their first year in the league, it's the hot starts for veterans that have turned many heads with larger-than-regular scoring outputs. Among those standouts is newly-signed Pittsburgh Penguins winger Justin Brazeau.
Justin Brazeau finished October at a point-per-game pace
At 27 years old, Brazeau has six goals and six assists for 12 points through the first 12 games of the season he's played in and has greatly benefited from playing with a center as skilled and rejuvenated as Evgeni Malkin.
On Thursday's episode of Daily Faceoff Live, NHL analysts Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton dove into his hot start and how it compares to other hot starts from Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto as well as the Utah Mammoth's Nick Schmaltz.
Tyler Yaremchuk: "Shane Pinto, Justin Brazeau and Nick Schmaltz were the three players who we looked at and said, 'This hot start may be fooling you a little bit,' and I think also, just like some teams, they'll cool off at some point. Shane Pinto -I think he might be a 70-plus-point guy. Maybe this hot start isn't all that much of a trick. But with Justin Brazeau, it's pretty easy to see that. If he manages to hit 25 goals this year, I'd be stunned."
Carter Hutton: "With Brazeau for me, it's Evgeni Malkin. Honestly, I don't want to take away from Brazeau because he's doing a good job, but Malkin looks rejuvenated this year and looks very good. I think Sidney Crosby and him, with just that passion those guys have to play and help Pittsburgh, I think Brazeau is reaping the benefits of that and playing with a healthy and rejuvenated Malkin."
Whether at the end of the day it's Malkin, or another reason for Brazeau's hot start, fans, coaches and his teammates just hope he doesn't slow down, as he's been viral to the Penguins sitting atop the NHL standings.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
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