Penguins Swap Big Bodies: Soderblom Hits IR, Brazeau Activated

The Pittsburgh Penguins are doing some mid-week roster gymnastics, swapping out one massive human being for another.

Daily Faceoff reported Wednesday that Pittsburgh officially placed forward Elmer Soderblom on injured reserve, activating Justin Brazeau to take his spot on the active roster.

Losing Soderblom is a tough break for a team that has been finding its groove. The Penguins are riding a nice little hot streak, coming off a tight 3-2 win over Nashville and a dominant 4-0 shutout against Florida.

Swapping out a 6-foot-8 winger for a 6-foot-5 winger is basically just Pittsburgh deciding they still want to block out the sun in the offensive zone, just at a slightly different angle.

For anyone tracking the puckline, this is the kind of depth move that shifts matchup dynamics just enough to matter. Brazeau brings fresh legs and a heavy forecheck to a bottom six that needs to maintain its current momentum.

We will see how the new rotation holds up when Utah rolls into town on October 29. If Brazeau is fully up to speed, Pittsburgh has a prime opportunity to keep this win streak rolling.