The Pittsburgh Penguins had a 2025-26 season that surprised just about everyone. Most projections had them missing the playoffs for a fourth straight year. Instead they made it back for the first time since 2022 and actually looked competitive in the process.
Kyle Dubas didn’t stop there. The GM has been busy this offseason reshaping the roster. He brought in Nick Robertson from Toronto, Hendrix Lapierre from Washington, David Gustafsson from Winnipeg, and Oliver Okuliar from Florida. On defense he added Kaedan Korczak and Trevor van Riemsdyk. A few players left too – goaltender Stuart Skinner, forward Noel Acciari, and defenseman Ryan Shea are all gone.
But the guy who might be feeling the most pressure right now? Justin Brazeau.
Where Does Brazeau Fit Now
Brazeau just finished his first season in Pittsburgh. He put up 17 goals and 17 assists. That’s not nothing. But according to Penguins beat writer Josh Yohe of The Athletic, Brazeau might be the odd man out when the opening night roster shakes out.
Yohe pointed out that Brazeau was actually a healthy scratch for the first time all season when the playoffs started against the Philadelphia Flyers. That’s a telling detail. The coaching staff already had him watching from the press box when things got serious.
“Justin Brazeau? It seems silly not to have him listed on the top four lines, but where does he fit?” Yohe wrote. “Söderblom played at a higher level last season. Brazeau, you’ll recall, was a healthy scratch for the first time all season in the playoffs against the Flyers. The Penguins’ top six appears pretty well set. They didn’t acquire Robertson and Kuzmenko to have them sit in the press box, nor did they give Lizotte and Dewar new contracts for that purpose.”
So there’s the math problem. The Penguins added forwards and re-signed others. Robertson and Kuzmenko are locks. Lizotte and Dewar got paid. Söderblom apparently outplayed Brazeau down the stretch. That leaves one guy standing in the cold.
Brazeau is still under contract and could absolutely find his way back into the lineup if someone gets hurt or slumps. But right now the depth chart doesn’t have a spot for him. That’s a weird spot for a guy who scored 17 goals. But it’s where we’re at.
The Penguins haven’t commented on Brazeau’s status specifically. This is all based on Yohe’s reporting and the obvious roster crunch. Training camp will sort it out. But for a guy who had a decent first year in Pittsburgh, it’s got to sting a little to see the offseason moves and realize you might be the one watching.
Leave a Comment