On the wing, the Boston Bruins have added some organizational depth.
The team declared on Sunday that they have signed forward Justin Brazeau to a two-way, two-year contract. The deal has a $775,000 cap hit and will last through the end of the 2024–2025 season.
This is the 26-year-old’s inaugural deal with the National Hockey League.
As per the agreement, Brazeau will receive $135,000 this season while in the minor leagues, $165,000 the following year, and a guarantee of $190,000 for the 2024–2025 season.Out of the 50 players who could be signed, the Bruins currently have 48 signed NHL contracts.
Brazeau is exempt from waivers for the remainder of this season. He would need to clear waivers if he were to return to the Providence Bruins, the Boston Bruins’ American Hockey League club, for the upcoming campaign.
After spending the first four plus years of his professional career on minor league contracts, the decision to sign Brazeau to an NHL contract could result in Brazeau’s first major league call-up. A position on the roster will become available since earlier in the day, Boston placed Oskar Steen on waivers.
After finishing his career with the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League with 113 points in 68 games, Brazeau made his professional debut in 2019 with the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers. During the COVID-19-shortened 2020–21 season, he made it up to the Toronto Marlies, full-time, and relocated to Providence in the summer of 2021.
The product of New Liskeard, Ontario, has played with Providence for the majority of the previous three seasons. During the 2021–22 campaign, he also made a few appearances with the ECHL Maine Mariners. With 37 points through 49 games this season, Brazeau is off to another strong start after scoring 49 points in 67 games with the Bruins the previous season.
The announcement on Brazeau’s call-up is most likely to come after 2 p.m. ET on Monday, when it is revealed whether or not Steen clears.
Prior to the waiver deadline, the Bruins (32-12-11) will play the Dallas Stars on Monday afternoon.
