Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas had a big task in the offseason: bring in quality talent that would help this team stay competitive. He did just that, bringing in forwards Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha for additional scoring. Little did he know they would be two of the best players on the team to start the season. Pittsburgh is off to a hot start, and these two are a big reason why.
Brazeau, Mantha bring size and scoring
Brazeau comes to Pittsburgh after a season with the Minnesota WIld. The 6-foot-6 and 232-pound forward signed a two-year, $3 million deal on the first day of free agency and that looks like a steal early on. It does not hurt that he is on the second line with Evgeni Malkin. He gives the Penguins secondary scoring and the undrafted Brazeau has been a tremendous addition to this team. This season, he has six goals and six assists for 12 points in 12 games and had a season high of three points against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 21. He should continue to provide a scoring punch to the top six and be a valuable addition to the Penguins team trying to make the postseason.
Mantha is another monster at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds. He signed a one-year deal worth $2.5 million and he has also worked out well in the early going. After a season that saw him play only 13 games with the Calgary Flames due to ACL surgery, Mantha is back to his scoring ways in PIttsburgh. The 20th pick in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings, he has had stints with the Washington Capitals, Red WIngs, Flames, and Vegas Golden Knights.
A big body that is capable of scoring 30 goals his success has been derailed by injuries. When he plays he is offensively productive, but the time he has missed has suffered greatly. In 13 games with the Penguins, he has sic goals and five assists for 11 points. He had a season high of two points against the Canucks on October 21 and again on Oct. 25 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. If he remains healthy it could be a huge factor in the team's success.
Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry is another reason for the Penguins success. He is having a comeback season after several seasons where he was average. This season, he is 5-1 with a 2.35 goals against average (GAA), a .923 save percentage, and one shutout. His five wins are tied for fourth in the league, he is seventh in save percentage, and 12th in GAA. His success this season is a blessing to the Penguins due to the fact that he has been placed on injured reserve eight times in the past eight seasons.
A former second-round pick of the Penguins in 2013, Jarry's only loss this season came against the Anaheim Ducks when he allowed three goals on Oct. 14. He has had a season-high 37 saves twice so far, against the New York Islanders on Oct. 9 and again against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 23. Like Mantha, the team's success is going to rely heavily on their health this season.
Pittsburgh is in a good spot early on as one of the surprises in the league this season. A large part of the success this season will come from the usual suspects in Sidney Crosby, Malkin, Erik Karlsson, and Kris Letang. However, if Brazeau and Mantha can each get 20 to 30 goals and Jarry can get close to 25 wins, this Pittsburgh team may have a shot at doing something in the playoffs. But if Brazeau disappears offensively, or Mantha and Jarry are both injured, it could be a long season ahead.