Penguins Forward Could Be Squeezed Out By Roster Crunch
The Penguins currently have somewhere between 16 and 18 legitimate forward candidates for 13 roster spots, an imbalance that's only gotten more crowded as Kyle Dubas has kept adding pieces up front.
Nine spots are effectively locked in: Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, Evgeni Malkin, Tommy Novak, Egor Chinakhov, Andrei Kuzmenko, Blake Lizotte, and Nick Robertson.
Connor Dewar and Elmer Soderblom are considered likely locks for two more fourth-line jobs. That leaves just two openings for a group that includes Brazeau, Rutger McGroarty, Hendrix Lapierre, Filip Hallander, Avery Hayes, Tristan Broz, and Ville Koivunen.
One Contract Changed A Lot
Koivunen's name is the one that changed a ton.
Pittsburgh signed the 23-year-old to an eight-year, $32 million extension on August 6, despite just 14 career NHL points across 39 games, a deal that ties for the second-longest contract in franchise history behind only Crosby's.
That's six goals this season for Justin Brazeau 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tYGXGiPq11
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 28, 2025
That kind of commitment, built almost entirely on his 41-point AHL season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, makes it far harder for Pittsburgh to keep Koivunen out of the lineup.
As The Hockey Writers put it: "The Ville Koivunen extension throws a wrench in that notion, but even still, it's no guarantee that Koivunen has a roster spot amongst the logjam."
If Koivunen takes one of the two remaining spots, Brazeau is suddenly fighting an even smaller pool of competition for what's left.
Why Brazeau Specifically Makes Sense To Move
Brazeau, 27, broke out in a big way last season, setting career highs with 17 goals, 17 assists, and 34 points in 64 games. He's entering the final year of a two-year, $3 million deal with a cap-friendly $1.5 million hit, and he'll become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
That combination would make him attractive to other teams. He's a big body who can play either wing, provide net-front presence, and produce in a limited role, all without requiring a contender to take on real money or term.
Pittsburgh would also be selling near the top of his value rather than waiting for it to slide.
Have to imagine #Pens will be trying to move guys like Tommy Novak and Justin Brazeau now, right?
— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) July 1, 2026
The NHL forward group is getting quite crowded, especially if they want to see some of their prospects at the NHL level.
There are already multiple hypothetical trade pitches floating around involving him, with Chicago, Toronto, and the New York Rangers each floated as suitors in exchange for draft capital or complementary roster pieces.
The counterargument is that Brazeau faded hard down the stretch, going without a point in his final seven regular-season games and getting scratched for all but one Pittsburgh playoff appearance, which is part of why some analysts expect regression on his 17-goal pace regardless of where he plays next season.
For now, nothing is imminent. But with Dubas still adding names to an already full forward group, Brazeau looks like the Penguins' likeliest trade chip if the front office decides the logjam needs to be solved before training camp opens.
