Bruins Need To Reward Jake DeBrusk's Two-Way Play With Contract Extension – Hockey Writers – Boston Bruins

Now that their season is over, the offseason for the Boston Bruins has just begun. General Manager Don Sweeney has money to spend this summer – and $22 million at his disposal. He has some important decisions to make, especially with restricted free agent Jeremy Swayman. However, some key players could return.

Forward Jake DeBrusk is an unrestricted free agent. He and the Bruins have not reached an agreement, but he hopes to return to the team. DeBrusk also made it known that he prioritizes winning and wants to be on a team with Stanley Cup hopes, and the Bruins should be able to contend for a championship. The question that remains is whether it makes sense to bring him back and will he want to come back?

DeBrusk's expectations

Good thing Sweeney has plenty of money to spend this summer. Entering the 2023-24 season, the team lost key scorers such as Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi. With limited flexibility at his disposal, DeBrusk was expected to be the one to step up and be that scoring layer behind star player David Pastrnak. However, that was not the case.

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Life without Patrice Bergeron hasn't been easy, and we've seen a different side of DeBrusk this season. Some of it was bad bounce and bad luck, but he didn't light the bulb nearly as often. He's established himself as a solid center back and six, and expectations should always be who he is rather than what he should be. If you have the money to spend, adding a permanent goal scorer is a must.

DeBrusk Is Emerging As A Great Two-Way Threat

It's no secret that the Bruins could use a boost in scoring depth. They were in the middle of the goal scoring pack and only had one player pass the 30 goal mark (Pastrnak). Again, this was a phenomenon last season, when no one but Pastrnak scored 30 goals. However, there are options in free agency to help fill that void. As for DeBrusk, he can score, but he's not a bonafide shooter like Pastrnak. Instead, the truth of his game lies in his strong two-way game. It's important to set aside realistic expectations and take a player for who he is and accept what he can do on both sides of the puck.

Irritating Effect

However, if we look at the score alone, many will argue, “He did nothing out of the blue.” However, his relentless effort and tenacity were evident, and he became influential.

In the 2023-24 season, DeBrusk finished with 19 goals and 40 points, a significant decrease from the previous season. Per Ty Anderson, it was reported that he had a broken hand, suffered a concussion during the bye week and did not recover until the playoffs. He is a strong forechecker and his play near the walls is good. He is relentless when it comes to tracking the puck and thrives in the most dangerous areas of the ice.

DeBrusk was great at making things happen offensively. At 5-on-5, he had the second most expected goals percentage (53.93%) on the Bruins and scored the fourth most expected goals. Also, he finished with a good goal difference.

Individually, DeBrusk was a powerhouse on offense, finishing the season with a 16.58 goals-against average on five-on-five. He scored less than expected, but it wasn't for lack of effort. Sometimes, things go that way, but he has been a key player in creating offences, while his defensive game is also improving.

Defense Impact

Playing with Bergeron had its benefits, and it's safe to say that DeBrusk's improved defensive game had a lot to do with learning from Bergeron.

DeBrusk did a good job of pressuring opponents, finishing 12th among Bruins pitchers in goals against. He brought that physicality, finishing with 107 hits, and was willing to sacrifice physicality with 48 blocked shots. He also finished the season with 36 takeaways.

He was put on the penalty kill, logged 120 minutes of ice time when he went down a man, and scored a shorthanded goal. Having a player like DeBrusk is good for the team's depth, and he has been a good Bruin in his career.

DeBrusk Be Good

DeBrusk is a special player who stars on both sides of the puck. Since his rookie season, he has epitomized what it means to be a Bruin. He wore the Spoked B with pride and gave fans memories that will last forever, including his game-winning goal in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2018 Playoffs and his game-winning goal in the 2023 Winter Classic.

DeBrusk has reached the 20-goal mark once, with a career-best 27 goals. Also, he surpassed 40 points three times (including his rookie season) and set a career high with 50 points in the 2022-23 season. In postseason play, he has 27 goals and 47 points in 86 games, a close 0.5-point-per-game player. Overall, he was a good fit for the Bruins, and his 200-yard game is worth a new contract.