Bruins notebook: Will Boston deal Jake DeBrusk before the March 8 deadline?
If Jake DeBrusk becomes an unrestricted free agency after the season, the Bruins will receive nothing in return for his desire to stay.
Boston — Although the NHL trade deadline on March 8 is still a little less than five weeks away, the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets’ moves to strengthen their lineups in the previous week have served as a reminder that the deadline is drawing near.
The Bruins may need to make a choice regarding Jake DeBrusk in addition to any additions they make to their roster. And he is aware of it.
At 27, DeBrusk is in the last year of a two-year contract for $4 million annually. Following the season, he will be a free agent without restrictions. Would the Bruins consider moving him instead of taking the chance of losing him in the offseason and receiving nothing in return if a deal isn’t finished, or at least nearly finished, by the trade deadline? DeBrusk has been playing well lately.
DeBrusk has reached extremely high peaks. When he’s playing well, he can score some important goals and is effective at both ends of the rink as well as on the power play and penalty kill. He has played himself into being a healthy scratch in the past and can go extended periods of time without scoring when he is injured.
How the combination translates into an annual dollar figure isn’t easy to figure out.
If the Bruins were to deal DeBrusk, they’d have more salary cap space to work with for adding another player and could also add either a prospect or a draft pick. But they’d have to replace his 12 goals and 13 assists in the lineup and fill his spot on the power play and the penalty-killing unit.
Nevertheless, DeBrusk, who requested a trade under former coach Bruce Cassidy, is now unwilling to depart. His goal is to appoint an extension.
To be honest with you, I’ve felt like it’s been genuine for the entire year. even before training camp officially began. It’s one of those tasks you wish to finish as soon as possible,” he remarked. But now that we’re here, I really don’t have any ideas about that. The trade deadline is in one and a half months, so hopefully everything goes quickly.
“I always have optimism,” he added. “I hope it gets done. I have an agent for a reason. I’ve obviously been in this organization for my whole career. I know where I stand in this lineup. I know where I am with the guys in this room and the city. … With the highs and lows. It’s more just playing my game.
I’m just focusing on the little things and everything should take care of itself.”
He’s not the only Bruins player in this predicament. Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort are also wrapping up longer deals with no extensions on the immediate horizon.
DeBrusk admitted he might not be as relaxed if the deadline gets closer with no resolution.
“Probably if it isn’t done around that time, I’ll probably be a little more nervous,” he said.
BRAD MARCHAND will be 37 when the puck drops at the 2026 Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament in 2026 in Milan, Italy.
That’s a late age for a hockey player, but he’s determined to make sure he has time to accomplish one big goal. The prospect of representing Canada in an Olympic competition will be a major source of motivation for the Bruins captain between now and then.
Officially, the NHL was compelled to terminate participation in 2022 due to COVID-19 issues. NHL players were not allowed to compete in 2018 as a result of issues between the NHL, players, and the International Olympic Committee.
During this weekend’s All-Star game, Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that an agreement had been reached to send NHL players to the Olympics in 2026 and 2030.
Marchand, who played for Team Canada in 2016 in the World Cup of Hockey and was projected to be on the Olympic roster in 2022, felt cheated of an opportunity.
“It was extremely upsetting that the guys were disqualified from the last two Olympics.” I consider it to be a fantastic chance for the players. They, in my opinion, have also merited it. They’ve positioned themselves to be the greatest at what they do, and having the greatest tournament at that caliber in that environment is something that everyone who gets to witness will never forget, he added.
“I think it’s fantastic for the players, the game, and the NHL. Everyone will undoubtedly be thrilled to see the athletes compete in the Olympics once more.
In 2026, he pledged to give himself every opportunity to gain a berth on the team.
“I was so bummed to miss the final two. It was as if our presence had been taken from us. That is undoubtedly a very important goal, he stated. “I’m going to exert every effort to be present and ensure that I’m in the best possible physical and mental state to be a member of that squad. It will be a while off. However, it’s undoubtedly a worthwhile objective to pursue.
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