Penguins GM Kyle Dubas Signs Forward from Minnesota Wild

While the Pittsburgh Penguins aren't going to be overly aggressive in the NHL's free agency period, general manager Kyle Dubas has signed a player who was available on the open market.

Coming to Pittsburgh is forward Justin Brazeau, who signed a 2-year contract with the team. The contract carries an AAV (average annual value) of $1.5 million.

Brazeau will be competing for a bottom-6 role with the Penguins, who have missed the playoffs in each of the last 3 years.

Brazeau was never drafted in the NHL, instead signing a contract in 2019 with the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, he spent his first year mostly playing instead with the Newfoundland Growlers of the ECHL, eventually being named to the ECHL's all-rookie team.

He would make the Marlies roster the next year, but only had five points in 21 games.

Brazeau then signed with the AHL's Providence Bruins, the AHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins. His performance improved, and he would eventually earn a call-up to the Bruins during 2023-24.

After playing in 57 games with the Bruins this year and scoring 20 points (10G, 10A), they traded him to the Minnesota Wild for Marat Khusnutdinov, Jakub Lauko, and a sixth-round draft pick.

With the Wild, he played in 19 games but had only a goal with an assist, with a pair of assists in 6 postseason games as Minnesota was defeated in the WCQF by the Vegas Golden Knights.

He's appeared in 95 career NHL games with the Bruins and Wild, scoring 29 points (16G, 13A).