Bruins ship Brazeau to Wild for Khusnutdinov, Lauko and pick
The Boston Bruins continued their retooling by trading forward Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild on the eve of the NHL trade deadline.
The Wild sent centers Marat Khusnutdinov and Jakub Lauko, as well as a 2026 sixth-round draft pick (originally from Boston), to the Bruins in the trade.
Brazeau, 27, has 10 goals and 10 assists in 54 games this season for the Bruins. Known for his size (6-foot-6, 227 pounds) and play around the net, he averaged 12:58 in ice time per game this season. Brazeau is an unrestricted free agent after this season who makes $775,000 against the salary cap.
The trade reunites Lauko, 24, with Boston, where be played two seasons before being traded to Minnesota in June 2024. Lauko was drafted 77th overall by Boston in the 2018 NHL Draft. He had 3 goals and 3 assists in 38 games with the Wild this season, battling hip and groin injuries.
Khusnutdinov is in his second NHL season and had 2 goals and 5 assists in 47 games for the Wild, skating 11:14 per game. He had recently been reassigned to the AHL for cap-related reasons after the Wild acquired winger Gustav Nyquist from Nashville.
Lauko and Khusnutdinov are restricted free agents after the season.
The Bruins are expected to be sellers before Friday’s NHL trade deadline, having already traded Trent Frederic and Max Jones to the Edmonton Oilers this week. All eyes are on captain Brad Marchand, who has been in negotiations on a new contract with Boston ahead of free agency this summer while the Bruins have been listening to trade offers for the star winger.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov missed a game for the first time this season after he was a late scratch from the lineup before Carolina’s 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.
“He had a little tweak and didn’t feel great,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He went to warm up and just felt that he couldn’t go. I don’t think it’s anything serious.”
The 33-year-old Orlov played in all 82 regular-season games in 2023-24 for the Hurricanes.
In the first period, Carolina defenseman Riley Stillman exited when he was bashed in the face by Bruins center John Beecher’s skate after logging only 18 seconds. He didn’t return.
“We’re one shift in,” Brind’Amour said. “It’s the whole game. You’re putting a little more stress on certain guys who aren’t used to it. Pairs get all mixed up. It’s not ideal, that’s for sure.”
Those adjustments came on a night when trade talks were swirling around Carolina winger Mikko Rantanen, who was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Colorado on Jan. 24.
The trade deadline comes Friday at 3 p.m. ET. Brind’Amour acknowledged that it has been difficult on Rantanen, who had three shots on goal and three giveaways Thursday night.
“It’d be nice to just put it behind us here in a few hours,” Brind’Amour said.
DETROIT — Carter Mazur’s NHL debut lasted just two shifts.
The 22-year-old Detroit Red Wings forward suffered an upper-body injury in the first period against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night.
Mazur was called up from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins earlier in the day. The Jackson, Michigan, native was Detroit’s third-round selection in the 2021 NHL draft.
He had 15 points in 20 games with the Griffins this season, including 11 in his last 11 AHL games. Mazur was sidelined from Oct. 19 to Jan. 18 with an upper-body injury.
He had a large contingent of family and friends on hand at Little Caesars Arena to cheer him on in his NHL debut, and tossed a puck over the boards to his mother prior to the contest.
Detroit waived veteran forward Christian Fischer to make room for Mazur, who skated a total of 1:10 on the fourth line with Tyler Motte and Jonatan Berggren.
“Growing up a Red Wings fan, seeing how much they’ve won and how the fans love the playoffs, it’s something that I hope I can be part of,” Mazur said after the team’s morning skate. “I hope to help them get in the right direction. I know they’re moving in the right direction, so it’s pretty awesome to join a team in this push right now.”
ESPN
EDITOR’S PICKS
Oilers get forward Frederic in trade with Bruins
2dKristen Shilton
NHL trade grades: Report cards for Smith to Knights, Dumoulin to Devils, other major deals
9hRyan S. Clark, Greg Wyshynski
EDITOR’S PICKS
Kaplan’s trade deadline buzz: Latest on Rantanen, Marchand, other big moves
2dEmily Kaplan
NHL trade grades: Report cards for Smith to Knights, Dumoulin to Devils, other major deals
9hRyan S. Clark, Greg Wyshynski
Live NHL trade tracker for 2024-25: Deals, grades, rumors, more
5hESPN Staff
NHL trade grades: Wild add big winger Justin Brazeau in deal with Bruins
NHL
Wild get: Forward Justin Brazeau
Bruins get: Forward Marat Khusnutdinov, forward Jakub Lauko, sixth-round pick in 2026
Corey Pronman: Justin Brazeau is a huge winger who has developed into an effective NHL player after being undrafted. He has good hands and offensive IQ and has a heavy element in how he plays. His skating is a major issue, but he’s shown he can outwork that well enough to be a likable bottom-six winger who could be effective in the playoffs.
Wild grade: B+
Bruins grade: B-
Harman Dayal: Brazeau is a giant 6-foot-6 winger who’s enjoyed a breakout season with 20 points in 57 games as an everyday NHL player for the first time in his career. The 27-year-old pending free agent is one of the slowest players in the NHL but makes an impact with a heavy playing style and genuine net-front utility.
Wild grade: B-
Bruins grade: B+
The trade
Minnesota Wild Acquires Forward Justin Brazeau From the Boston Bruins in Exchange for Forwards Marat Khusnutdinov and Jakub Lauko
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired forward Justin Brazeau (pronounced BRAZ-oh) from the Boston Bruins in exchange for forwards Marat Khusnutdinov and Jakub Lauko and a sixth-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, originally acquired from Boston.
Brazeau, 27 (2/2/98), has collected 20 points (10-10=20) including four power-play goals (third on team) and two game-winning goals, 89 hits and 16 penalty minutes (PIM) in 57 games with the Bruins this season. The 6-foot-6, 227-pound native of New Liskeard, Ont., owns 27 points (15-12=27), 132 hits, 38 blocked shots and 18 PIM in 76 career NHL games in two seasons with Boston (2023-25). Brazeau scored a goal in his NHL debut on Feb. 19, 2024, at Dallas (Oettinger) and owns two points (1-1=2) in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Bruins.
He recorded 118 points (53-65=118), 377 shots on goals and a plus-32 rating in 189 career American Hockey League (AHL) games in parts of five seasons with the Toronto Marlies (2019-21) and Providence Bruins (2021-24). Brazeau added three points (2-1=3) in six Calder Cup Playoff games with the Bruins. He also tallied 75 points (37-38=75) in parts of two ECHL seasons with the Maine Mariners (2021-22) and the Newfoundland Growlers (2019-20) and was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team in 2019-20.
Brazeau collected 238 points (128-110=238) and 84 PIM in 268 games in four seasons (2015-19) with the North Bay Battalion in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and was named to the OHL First Team All-Star and the OHL Overage Player of the Year in 2018-19. He added eight points (6-2=8) in 21 playoff games.
Brazeau signed a two-year, two-way contract with Boston on Feb. 18, 2024.
Khusnutdinov, 22 (7/17/02), skated in 73 career games and owns 11 points (3-8=11) across two NHL seasons (2023-25), with Minnesota. Lauko, 24 (3/28/00) collected six points (3-3=6) and 69 hits in 38 games with Minnesota this season.
