The Penguins are getting a key depth forward back into their lineup.
Justin Brazeau has been recalled by the Penguins from their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he has been on a conditioning stint en route back from a lower-body injury he sustained in the preseason. Brazeau played two games in the AHL, registering an assist prior to his call back to the NHL, a league he has rightfully earned playing time in.
This move comes retroactively to Rutger McGroarty being sent down to the AHL in light of the transaction. Compared to his 10 points in seven games, McGroarty finished his first NHL stint of 2026-27 with 2 games played.
Pittsburgh plays Vegas tomorrow at 7 p.m., which will likely be the forwards’ NHL season debut. Brazeau was one of the Penguins’ success stories last year, as he tallied a career-high 17 goals and 34 points in the first campaign of a two-year, $1.5MM AAV deal they bet on him in free agency after scoring 11 goals for 22 points between the Bruins and Wild in 2024-25. That 2025-26 campaign saw that scoring clip come in just 64 games, where he was the third most cost-effective player, averaging a low $44K cost-per-point.
This year, he’s a much-needed insertion for a Pittsburgh team that has been injury-ridden to start their season. The Penguins have added five points since mid-October and are second-to-last in the Eastern Conference Wild Card standings with a 5-7-2 record through 14 contests. A -2 goal differential should bring some confidence for getting back an underrated offensive weapon like Brazeau, who can produce and generate opportunities, especially off the rush, having been third on Pittsburgh in points off the rush since his tenure began in 2025-26.
More to come.