Wild Acquire Justin Brazeau From the Bruins

Wild Add Depth and Physicality

Currently third in the Central Division, the Wild have had to deal with a plethora of injuries this season, including all-star Kirill Kaprizov, and with Brazeau, he looks to add much-needed scoring to their bottom-six. With 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 57 games, the 6-foot-6 right winger brings a great addition of physicality.

He has built a reputation as a hard worker who fights for every opportunity to win. While he may not be overly aggressive, he knows how to use his frame effectively. Brazeau is the player you want in the depth of your lineup during the playoffs because he is tough to play against.

At 27 years old and only carrying a cap hit of $775,000, the Wild have freed up $938,000 following the trade, allowing them even more space to make moves before the deadline comes at 3 pm EST.

Bruins Add Much-Needed Young Talent

The Bruins drafted Lauko 77th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft after he spent a year playing against professional competitors in the top Czech league. He played three seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) before splitting the 2022-23 season between Boston and Providence. He appeared in 23 NHL games and scored seven points during that time. In the 2023-24 season, he had his first full NHL experience, registering 10 points in 60 games with Boston. On June 29, Lauko was traded to the Wild, along with a fourth-round pick in 2024, in exchange for Vinni Lettieri and Minnesota’s fourth-round pick. With the Wild this season, he has three goals and three assists for six points in 38 games.

Drafted in the second round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft with the 37th pick, Khusnutdinov covers the entire 200 feet of the ice and possesses one of the best motors in his class. He consistently backchecks as play transitions to the defensive zone, and his skill in tracking developing plays while skating at full speed has truly impressed us over the year. Additionally, he is proficient at carrying the puck into the offensive zone. He has two goals and five assists for seven points in 57 games.