The Pittsburgh Penguins have finalized two-year contract extensions for forward Justin Brazeau, and defensemen Parker Wotherspoon and Caleb Jones, keeping them with the team through the 2026-27 season. These signings were confirmed by Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas, aiming to strengthen the roster with experienced players for upcoming campaigns. The Parker Wotherspoon Penguins contract marks an important addition to the Penguins’ defensive lineup.
Contract Details and Player Profiles
Justin Brazeau, aged 27, signed a two-year deal with an average annual value of $1.5 million. Parker Wotherspoon, also 27, agreed to a contract with an average yearly salary of $1 million, while Caleb Jones, 28, signed for $900,000 per year across two seasons.
Brazeau sports a towering 6-foot-6 stature and weighs 227 pounds. He divided the 2024-25 season between the Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins, appearing in 76 games and recording 11 goals, 11 assists, totaling 22 points. Over parts of two <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/hockey/nhl/”>NHL seasons with these teams, Brazeau has accumulated 29 points in 95 games.
Before turning professional, Brazeau played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the North Bay Battalion, where he was captain in the 2018-19 season. In 268 junior games, Brazeau scored 128 goals and 110 assists. During his captaincy, he led OHL players with 61 goals and was honored as the league’s Overage Player of the Year and named to the First All-Star Team.
Defensive Depth Strengthened with Wotherspoon and Jones
Parker Wotherspoon, a 6-foot-1, 192-pound defenseman from Surrey, British Columbia, has played 55 games for the Boston Bruins in the most recent season, contributing one goal and six assists. Wotherspoon has appeared in 108 NHL games since 2022, split between the Bruins and the New York Islanders, registering 16 points. His professional experience includes nine seasons in the AHL with Bridgeport and Providence, where he amassed 113 points in 312 games.
Wotherspoon also has a strong junior background, having played five seasons with the Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League. In 279 WHL games, he recorded 32 goals and 150 assists. Notably, Wotherspoon represented Canada at the 2015 World Under-18 Championship, helping his team earn a bronze medal with five points in seven games. He was originally drafted 112th overall in 2015 by the New York Islanders.
Caleb Jones, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 194 pounds, spent the 2024-25 season between the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL and their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. Jones played six NHL games and 44 AHL contests, tallying 21 points and maintaining a plus-6 rating at the AHL level. Over his NHL career, Jones has appeared in 248 games with four teams: Los Angeles, Colorado, Chicago, and Edmonton, producing 55 points.
Jones boasts international experience as well, having earned gold medals for the United States at the 2017 World Junior Championship and the 2015 World Under-18 Championship. Drafted 117th overall by Edmonton in 2015, Jones has also logged 181 games in the AHL, contributing 84 points.
Implications for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Roster
By securing Parker Wotherspoon and other key players on two-year contracts, the Penguins are aiming to build a more reliable core as they prepare for future seasons. Wotherspoon’s defensive skills combined with the forward depth from Brazeau and the versatile defense from Jones create a balanced foundation. These signings offer the team flexibility while maintaining continuity on the ice, which could prove crucial in the Penguins’ pursuit of success through 2027.