Trade completed between the Bruins and Wild takes a major turn: There is a new clear winner
Boston's 2024-25 season went sideways, and the front office leaned into selling before the deadline. That was painful but understandable, because the standings were not pointing toward playoff hockey.
One of the bigger moves was sending Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild on March 7, 2025. The return was forwards Marat Khusnutdinov and Jakub Lauko, plus a 2026 sixth-round pick.
At the time, the logic was clear, Brazeau was a pending UFA with a $775,000 cap hit, and Boston wanted controllable pieces. Minnesota took the big winger as a short-term bet, and it never turned into more.
Justin Brazeau flips Boston Bruins trade story
As a Bruins fan, this one hurts because you can see the fit now, and you can't unsee it.
When free agency opened, Pittsburgh swooped in and signed Brazeau to a two-year deal worth $3 million total. The Penguins also noted he was 27 at signing, and the AAV lands at $1.5 million.
That price looks ridiculous today because his production has jumped into another tier. Brazeau has 12 goals and 20 points in 27 games.
It is not just points either, it is usage and trust. He has clicked early with Evgeni Malkin, and Pittsburgh has kept him in scoring looks that suit a 6-foot-6 net-front finisher.
His heater even included a loud moment Monday against Chicago, when he scored his first career hat trick in a 7-3 Penguins win.
That makes the old Boston stat line feel like a different player. Before the trade last season, Brazeau had 10 goals and 20 points in 57 Bruins games.
Meanwhile, Minnesota's part in this story is almost the harshest, because they identified him, then watched him leave for nothing. Boston at least got Khusnutdinov, 22, and Lauko, 24, but the Penguins got the breakout.
Also read on Boston Hockey Insider :
New details emerge on Jake DeBrusk being traded out of Vancouver
New details emerge on Jake DeBrusk being traded out of Vancouver
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 5 | 109 ANSWERS Trade completed between the Bruins and Wild takes a major turn: There is a new clear winner Who won the Justin Brazeau trade at this moment? | ||
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 50 | 45.9 % |
| Boston Bruins | 37 | 33.9 % |
| Minnesota Wild | 11 | 10.1 % |
| Too early | 11 | 10.1 % |
| List of polls | ||