Ville Koivunen's Contract Puts Justin Brazeau's Penguins Future in Doubt

The Pittsburgh Penguins' substantial commitment to Ville Koivunen could lead General Manager Kyle Dubas to make another significant decision, and a trade involving Justin Brazeau might be the most straightforward resolution.

Pittsburgh signed Koivunen to an eight-year, $32 million contract on August 6th. At 23 years old with only 14 NHL points, he now holds the longest contract on the team's roster. Last season, Koivunen recorded just two goals and seven points in 39 NHL games. However, his performance with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he amassed 13 goals and 41 points in 34 games, indicates the organization's continued belief in his offensive potential.

This new contract makes it increasingly challenging for the Penguins to keep Koivunen out of their regular lineup. Coupled with the offseason additions of Andrei Kuzmenko, Nicholas Robertson, and Hendrix Lapierre, the forward group, already competitive, now faces even more internal pressure.

It's likely that one player will be squeezed out. Justin Brazeau stands out as the most probable candidate, as trading him would create a roster spot without forcing Pittsburgh to sacrifice a more critical veteran or a younger player with long-term significance.

Brazeau's Value Could Create Trade Opportunities

Trading Brazeau wouldn't be about shedding an unwanted contract. Instead, his production should make him an attractive asset.

Brazeau achieved career highs last season with 17 goals and 17 assists for a total of 34 points in 64 games. Despite generally playing in a bottom-six role, he averaged 0.53 points per game, providing Pittsburgh with valuable secondary scoring at a reasonable cost.

His current contract further strengthens the case for a trade. Brazeau is entering the second year of a two-year, $3 million deal with a $1.5 million cap hit. He is eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2026-27 season.

This combination of factors could appeal to teams seeking affordable offensive depth.

A contending team wouldn't need to absorb a significant salary or commit to a long-term deal. Brazeau's versatility on either wing, his presence around the net, and his proven ability to produce in a limited role make him a desirable acquisition. Furthermore, Pittsburgh would be trading him after his most productive NHL season, rather than waiting for his value to potentially diminish.

There are, however, reasons to anticipate some regression. Brazeau's scoring rate slowed after a strong start last season, and injuries impacted his second half. Recent analyses of potential Penguins players facing regression suggest that repeating his 17-goal performance might be challenging.

This timing could make it an opportune moment to explore his trade market.

Koivunen Needs Brazeau's Spot More Than Pittsburgh Needs Cap Space

The Penguins do not need to move Brazeau for financial reasons. Rather, they may need the roster space he occupies.

A recent projection of the Penguins' 2026-27 roster placed Brazeau on the fourth line but acknowledged that his position was far from secure. Players like Elmer Soderblom could contend for the same role, while Lapierre, Rutger McGroarty, and Koivunen all require opportunities to play.

This projection was made before Pittsburgh's significant commitment to Koivunen.

That contract extension fundamentally alters the equation. The Penguins can no longer view Koivunen as just another young forward competing for a roster spot. The organization has made a substantial bet that his AHL production will translate into meaningful NHL offense.

As previously argued, the Penguins need a clear plan for Koivunen's development, particularly since his game is unlikely to mature through fourth-line minutes or consistent shuttling between the NHL and AHL. The new contract elevates the importance of this issue.

Koivunen requires top-nine minutes, offensive zone starts, and some power-play time. The Penguins won't gain significant insight into their $32 million investment by limiting him to eight minutes of ice time per night.

Trading Brazeau wouldn't automatically guarantee Koivunen that role, but it would remove one obstacle.

Penguins' Offseason Additions Have Altered Brazeau's Role

Brazeau's fit on the team made considerably more sense when Pittsburgh acquired him in July 2025. The Penguins signed him to a two-year contract after he contributed 22 points in 76 games for the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild. His size, net-front presence, and affordable contract represented a reasonable gamble for Dubas in the bottom six.

The team's forward roster looks significantly different a year later.

Kuzmenko provides another experienced winger. Robertson was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a draft pick and subsequently signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract. Lapierre cost Pittsburgh two future draft selections and then signed for two seasons.

Koivunen is now under contract through the 2033-34 season. McGroarty still needs an opportunity to establish himself, and Soderblom performed well enough after his arrival last season to remain in contention for a bottom-six role.

Brazeau now occupies a somewhat unusual position. He is productive enough that Pittsburgh would be hesitant to waive or demote him, yet he isn't crucial enough to the team's long-term vision to block younger players who require NHL evaluation.

This makes him more expendable than he was at the beginning of the offseason.

Trading Brazeau Offers Dubas Several Strategic Options

Pittsburgh should not trade Brazeau solely to clear a roster spot. The team needs to receive value in return.

His inexpensive contract and recent production could allow Dubas to pursue a future draft pick, a younger player at a different position, or utilize Brazeau as part of a larger trade package. While the Penguins don't desperately need another late-round pick, accumulating additional assets would align with the roster transition Dubas has been managing in recent seasons.

The team could also seek to address needs elsewhere on the roster. Pittsburgh has significantly more forward depth than available NHL jobs, while questions remain on defense and in goal. Using excess depth at one position to strengthen another would be more strategic than allowing multiple forwards to compete for jobs that don't exist.

There is also no immediate pressure to complete a trade. Training camp could naturally resolve the situation. Injuries might create openings, and Koivunen still needs to prove his NHL performance warrants a regular role. Dubas shouldn't trade a productive 17-goal scorer before determining if Koivunen, McGroarty, or Lapierre can truly earn Brazeau's spot.

The Penguins should approach training camp prepared to make the move if the roster congestion becomes evident.

Brazeau Still Has a Case to Remain in Pittsburgh

Trading Brazeau would come at a cost. Seventeen goals from a player earning $1.5 million represents excellent value. Pittsburgh spent years searching for affordable depth scoring, and trading away one of the players who finally provided it could create a new problem.

Brazeau also brings an attribute that several of Pittsburgh's new forwards lack: size and a willingness to play around the crease, offering the Penguins a different offensive dimension. The organization doesn't need an entire bottom six composed of similar skill-first forwards.

His expiring contract also means Pittsburgh faces minimal long-term risk by keeping him. If Koivunen struggles or another winger gets injured, Brazeau provides proven NHL insurance.

Therefore, the Penguins should avoid treating a trade as a foregone conclusion. The argument is that Brazeau has become the most logical player to move if Pittsburgh determines someone must depart.

This distinction is important.

Koivunen Extension Forces Penguins to Prioritize

Pittsburgh has focused on creating internal competition throughout the offseason. Koivunen's contract signifies that this competition must eventually yield clear winners and losers.

The Penguins did not commit $32 million to Koivunen for him to remain behind every established forward on the depth chart. His 41 points in 34 AHL games suggest he has little left to prove at that level, while his seven points in 39 NHL games underscore the necessity of a larger NHL sample to determine if the significant investment pays off.

Brazeau represents the most straightforward avenue to create that opportunity. He is entering the final year of his contract, carries only a $1.5 million cap hit, and just scored 17 goals. These qualities make him valuable to Pittsburgh, but they also position him as one of the few expendable forwards with legitimate trade value.

Dubas should not give Brazeau away simply due to a crowded depth chart. However, if another team is willing to compensate Pittsburgh for what Brazeau provided last season, the Penguins should listen.

The Penguins have unequivocally signaled that Koivunen is a core part of their long-term future. Their next roster move may need to ensure there is indeed a place for him to play.