Justin Brazeau can’t help but have a soft spot for the Maple Leafs.
And yes, that’s taking into account that the big New Liskeard native has found a home on the wing with the Atlantic Division rival Boston Bruins.
“(The Leafs) gave me my chance to play pro hockey,” Brazeau said after the morning skate on Tuesday. “I’m very thankful for that and everything they did for me when I was here in the summers.
“Some of the older guys when I was here, they were just so good for me, when I came in, making sure I felt comfortable.”
Brazeau mentioned the guidance of Jason Spezza, now an assistant general manager with the Pittsburgh Penguins under Kyle Dubas, and that he remains in touch with the former National Hockey League star.
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Brazeau’s perseverance has been a hallmark of his hockey career. After he was selected 254th overall by the North Bay Battalion in the 2014 Ontario Hockey League draft, Brazeau emerged as a star by his fourth OHL season, scoring 61 goals in 68 games in 2018-19.
That earned the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Brazeau an American Hockey League contract with the Toronto Marlies. A season in the ECHL with Newfoundland led to a spot with the Marlies in 2020-21, during which Brazeau had just five points in 21 games.
Brazeau’s skating improved after he worked with Barb Underhill in Toronto, but the club wasn’t interested in retaining him.
An AHL contract with the Providence Bruins came in 2021. After producing consistently in the minors, Brazeau worked his way into the Bruins lineup last season after signing a two-way, two-year contract in February.
He scored in his first NHL game against the Dallas Stars on Feb. 19 and has been a part of the Bruins since.
Brazeau figured he was going to have more than a dozen family and friends on hand for the game on Tuesday, including his parents and grandparents.
“(The Bruins) play a lot of a similar style to what I like to do,” Brazeau said. “I like to get to the net, play heavy, down low. It has been a good fit so far.”
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