Don't be surprised if this former Boston Bruins forward has a big season with the Vancouver Canucks.
Don't be surprised if this former Boston Bruins forward has a big season with the Vancouver Canucks.
Last month, former Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk signed a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks. With this, the final and most successful Bruins first-round pick of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft is no longer a member of the Original Six club.
DeBrusk, 27, landed a nice payday on the free-agent market, which was expected. Even after a down 2023-24 regular season, there was naturally going to be a lot of interest in him, as he was a crucial part of the Bruins' top six for multiple years.
In 80 regular-season games this past season with the Bruins, DeBrusk posted 19 goals and 40 points. While these numbers were not bad, they were low for his standards, as he had 27 goals and 50 points in 64 games the season before. He also struggled with consistency during the year and suffered a broken hand just before the Bruins' bye week, which naturally impacted his play.
Once DeBrusk healed right before the playoffs, his play noticeably improved. He was the Bruins' top forward during the postseason, posting a team-leading five goals and 11 points in 13 playoff games. After ending the year like this once healthy, it is hard not to view him as a prime bounce-back candidate heading into next season.
Furthermore, DeBrusk may benefit significantly from this change of scenery. When looking at the Canucks' current group, it is evident that he has a fantastic chance of playing in their top six. Because of this, he should get the opportunity to play with an elite center, whether it is J.T. Miller or Elias Pettersson. In addition, due to his offensive skill, he will surely see power-play time.
It will be intriguing to see what kind of season DeBrusk puts together in 2024-25 with the Canucks. Given his improved play down the stretch and expected significant role, it could be a strong season for the Edmonton, Alberta native.
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