Boston Bruins skaters Jake DeBrusk and Matt Grzelcyk are slated to be UFAs next summer. Despite recording career highs in points last season, will they re-sign?
Winger Jake DeBrusk and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk are joining their Boston Bruins teammates in training camp this week. It could end up being their last with this club.
Both players are slated to become UFAs next July. DeBrusk, 26, is in the second year of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $4 million. The 29-year-old Grzelcyk, meanwhile, is in the final season of a four-year deal with a $3,687,500 annual cap hit.
The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa wondered if DeBrusk and Grzelcyk had long-term futures in Boston.
He believes DeBrusk's performance this season as a top-six winger will determine if his next contract will be with the Bruins. He noted the winger recently said it takes two to tango in contract talks.
“Whenever it happens, it happens,” said DeBrusk, acknowledging his play in 2023-24 will be a factor in those discussions.
Trade rumors dogged DeBrusk prior to signing his current contract in March 2022. However, he silenced the speculation with a career-best 50-point performance in 64 games last season. His stats would've been better had he not suffered injuries during the 2023 Winter Classic that took him out of the lineup for four weeks.
Shinzawa considers Grzelcyk to be “a very good defender” but noted he doesn't kill penalties, plays sheltered 5-on-5 minutes and isn't likely to see much power-play time this season. He recently suggested the blueliner was the most likely Bruin to get traded this season.
Any moves involving either player will likely come near the March 8 trade deadline. That will depend on where the Bruins sit in the standings by that point and what specific needs they must address.