Grapes are back in Boston!
Justin Brazeau has been traded to the Minnesota Wild for forwards Jakub Lauko and Marat Khustnidinov, as well as the 2026 6th round draft pick the Bruins originally sent to Minnesota in the Pat Maroon trade last season.
The #NHLBruins have acquired forwards Marat Khusnutdinov and Jakub Lauko, as well as a 2026 sixth-round pick, from Minnesota in exchange for Justin Brazeau.
: https://t.co/ft5eIECZb8 pic.twitter.com/kwiP0zKorA
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 7, 2025
Brazeau was a streaky player as a Bruin but certainly gained some footing as a gritty, big-bodied forward who could score more than just in front of the net.
10G-10A-20PTS in 57 games isn’t bad for a middle/bottom-six forward on a better team, but as a pending UFA, his parting almost felt inevitable.
Jakub Lauko returns to the B’s after being traded to the Wild over the summer in a deal that involved a swap of draft picks and brought Vinni Lettieri back to the Bruins organization.
Lauko had just 3G-3A-6PTS in 38 games, but he’s been plagued by the injury bug more often than not this season.
Lauko, a noted lover of green grapes, was a bit of a fan favorite at his departure, so that probably works well for the locker room.
Michael Russo of The Athletic provided some context from a Wild perspective:
Confirmed both Lauko and Khusnutdinov heading to the Bruins. They were the 2 #mnwild forwards in today’s analysis predicted to be potentially goners.
Wild were worried about Lauko’s injuries ahead
Justin Brazeau coming back. 27yo, 6-5, RWer didn’t play tonight in Raleigh.
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 7, 2025
Marat Khustnidinov is a 2020 2nd round pick from the Wild, only 22 and still needs some seasoning.
His scouting reports have him as a very strong 200-foot center who can move the puck up the ice quickly, which feels a lot like what the Bruins need. His size at 5’ 11” gives me Matt Poitras vibes, but I wonder if either would slide to a wing.
He certainly seems like an interesting pickup for the future of the club.
Regardless, it certainly seems like the Bruins aren’t done.
What do you think of this trade?