Wild acquire Justin Brazeau from Bruins for Jakub Lauko, Marat Khusnutdinov

Brazeau turned heads last year when the then-26-year-old made his unexpected NHL debut with the Bruins. He finished the year off with seven points in 19 games and then proceeded to crack the roster for Boston’s playoff run. Since then, he has become a solid depth piece for a Bruins team with no shortage of bottom-six help, with Brazeau putting himself on pace for 15 goals and 30 points.

For a player making the league minimum, that’s huge. It also helps that he has a reputation for being a workhorse who fights for every opportunity to win any battle. He has great size at 6-foot-5 and while he’s not overly aggressive, he knows how to use his frame. Brazeau is the type of player you want playing deep in your lineup for the playoffs because he’s difficult to play against. The fact he’s good for the odd goal every now and then is just gravy. If it works out, great. If not, he’s cheap and set to become a UFA, so there’s no risk attached.

Lauko is no stranger to Boston. The Bruins drafted him 77th overall in 2018 after he spent the year playing against men in the top Czech league. Lauko played three seasons in the AHL before splitting the 2022-23 season between Boston and Providence. He played in 23 NHL games and scored seven points.

Lauko spent his first full season in the NHL in 2023-24, registering 10 points in 60 games with Boston. Lauko was traded to the Wild on June 29 along with a fourth-round pick in 2024 for Vinni Lettieri and Minnesota’s fourth-rounder.

Khusnutdinov is in his first full season in the NHL after spending four years in the KHL. The 22-year-old Russian forward has just two goals and seven points in 57 games this year and 11 points in 73 total games after finishing last year with the Wild. The 5-foot-9 forward is quick and backchecks hard and might end up becoming a solid, energetic depth forward for the Bruins.