Bruins notebook: Jake DeBrusk not sweating new deal — yet

Like many of his Bruins teammates, Jake DeBrusk was sporting some fresh color on Sunday after an All-Star break excursion, courtesy of a St. Bart’s beach in his case.He seems rested and, though he’s still nursing an undisclosed injury that kept him out of the last game in Philadelphia before the break, ready to take on the final 33 games of the regular season.But while the 27-year-old DeBrusk still gives off his usual carefree vibe, there’s some pretty big unfinished personal business that’s hanging over him that he can’t ignore.

He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season and he is currently without a contract extension.While the March 8 trade deadline is not a hard and fast cutoff for the two sides to get something done, the B’s do have to be concerned if they’re not any closer on a deal. DeBrusk is surely not a player that like to see walk away for nothing in the summer. The trade deadline can provide an impetus for the sides to get a deal done if there’s one to be had. It’s no coincidence that the mega-contract contract for David Pastrnak, who was in DeBrusk’s situation last year, was announced at the deadline last season.

DeBrusk, maintaining his oft-stated feeling that he wants to remain in Boston, was asked if the situation felt any more real to him now with the trade deadline approaching.“I think it’s felt pretty real to me all year, to be honest,” said DeBrusk after Sunday’s practice. “Ever since the start of training camp, it’s one of those things where you want it to get done as fast as possible. Obviously we’re here now. When it comes to thoughts on that, I don’t really have any. But yeah, it’s a (month-plus) till the trade deadline and I hope it gets done quick.”

“I always have optimism. I feel like it would be pretty depressing if I didn’t have optimism that I’d be here. But It’s one of those things where I hope it gets done,” said DeBrusk. “I have an agent for a reason and I’ve been in this organziation for my whole career. I feel like I know where I stand in this lineup, I feel like I know where I am with the guys in this room and the city as well, the highs and the lows. It’s more so just playing (about) my game. I felt like my game was just coming along and now I’m dealing with a little something. But you just go and focus on the little things and everything should take care of itself. But probably if you ask me around that time (of the deadline) and it isn’t done, I’d probably be a little more nervous.”DeBrusk is in his sweet spot for earning. This is not only his first, but his best shot to make some real coin in his career. He just hopes he can get it here.

“That’s obviously something to consider. It’s a business at the end of the day,” said DeBrusk. “But in saying that, I think its one of those things where it gets talked about even more than when you’re actually in it because…I’m so used to just being here. I don’t really have any complaints on that. I look at that and people ask me about the fascination of (free agency). But you look at it and hopefully it just doesn’t get to that point. That’s kind of where I come from, is that I don’t even want to have that option. In saying that, it’s the first (kick) at the can and I understand that, too. But I hope it gets done.”

One comparable for DeBrusk would be right wing Owen Tippett, who was just signed to an eight-year deal worth an average annual salary of $6.2 million by the Flyers. Considering DeBrusk’s penalty killing work, which Tippett does not do, DeBrusk’s camp could even seek north of that number,

While DeBrusk didn’t discuss salary goals, he did say he was hoping for something longer than the two-year deal he’s on now.“I think I’m more open probably to longer term,” he said. “I think everybody wants to be a Bruin for as long as they can. But I don’’t have a number on either side. That goes to my agent (Rick Valette) and (GM Don Sweeney) to get down to the numbers and all that stuff. But I’ve been lucky enough to be a Bruin seven years now and I wouldn’t mind getting another however more I can get. I’ve really enjoyed my time here.”

Until a new deal is done, it’s still an open question on just how long that time will last…Brad Marchand has twice been in line to represent Canada in the Olympics and twice he was crestfalllen when the NHL decided not to send its players to the Games. Now he’s got another shot after the league, the NHLPA and IIHF announcing over the weekend that they’ll be going to the 2026 and 2030 Games.

“I was very disappointed missing the last two.” said Marchand, who’ll be 36 in May. “That’s definitely a huge goal. I’m going to do everything I can to be there and be in the best possible shape and be in the best possible position to be on that team. It’s a long time away but it’s definitely a nice goal to set and try to chase.”…Minus the three all-Stars – Jeremy Swayman, Pastrnak and coach Jim Montgomery — everyone was present and accounted for at Sunday’s practice. That included the players who missed the last game in Philly – DeBrusk, Derek Forbort and Matt Poitras.

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