The Boston Bruins have decisions to make on their expiring contracts before free agency opens on July 1. Based on factors such as roster needs and players' talent, we are ranking the 10 most important free agents and predicting their future in Boston.
With just under one month remaining until free agency opens, we will be going over the top 10 free agents for the Boston Bruins.
These are all “in-house” options that they will have to decide between keeping or letting go. This is not covering potential free agent targets on other teams.
Additionally, the ranking has less to do with the talent or production of the player, but rather the importance of the decision. Obviously each player’s ability factors into that determination, but based on the make-up of the roster and the team’s most-pressing needs, a ‘better’ player may not be as big a priority as a player in another position.
You can find the rest of the list so far below:
Today we look at No. 2:
2. Jake DeBrusk, Forward
Age: 27
2023-24 stats: 80 GP, 19G-21A-40P
Previous contract: 2 years, $8 million
Total Years with Bruins: 7
You can’t describe Jake DeBrusk’s Boston Bruins career without using the phrase “ups and downs.” You could boil it down to what happened in 2023-24 alone: DeBrusk disappeared in stretches and finished the regular season with just 40 points, but he turned it around to lead the Bruins in playoff scoring with 11 points in 13 games.
If DeBrusk can produce in the playoffs like he did this spring, even if it means pushing through down stretches, the Bruins will take that 10 times out of 10. However, those inconsistencies still need to be taken into account when determining the next contract.
While his production comes and goes, DeBrusk developed into a top six forward that can play on either wing, while also playing important minutes on both ends of special teams. After Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and the two goalies, DeBrusk falls into the next tier of the most impactful players on the team, which is why the decision about him is so important.
Prediction: He walks
We’ve broken down DeBrusk’s situation here before, but in short, it seems as if DeBrusk’s side has a number in mind and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has a different one, and neither side will meet in the middle.
At his end-of-season media availability, DeBrusk hinted that his camp settled on a figure based on what similarly producing players have earned.
“Not that hard, you just got to look at certain guys’ stats and things like that, and just go from there,” he said.
Sweeney, meanwhile, referred to negotiations as a “two-way street” during end-of-season media availability, so while the Bruins seem to want DeBrusk back, it would have to be for the 'right price.'
With just a few weeks left until free agency opens, there’s been no sign of their contract talks picking up steam. It would be surprising if DeBrusk returns at this point. There will likely be a handful of teams willing to pay him, especially with the salary cap set to increase to $88 million next season.
Other Stories: