Jake DeBrusk’s tenure with the Boston Bruins has come to a close with his departure in the NHL free agency. For seven years, DeBrusk—who the Bruins selected in the first round of the 2015 draft—served as an integral part of their lineup. Though he was dissatisfied with his job with the Bruins in the 2021–22 season, DeBrusk’s notorious trade request will forever mark his legacy in Boston.
During a recent interview with The Cam & Strick Podcast, DeBrusk expressed his thoughts about a fresh start for both parties, citing the team’s current formation and his disappointment in being scratched from the playoffs as reasons. I decided to try to move things ahead at that point. I was paralysed with fear for my career and assumed they weren’t going to give it their full attention. Nothing changed, and I felt I could do more than what was occurring. During the interview, DeBrusk stated that he had discussed his wish to be traded with the Bruins front staff in private during the summer of 2021. But after a slump in which he scored three goals in 15 games during the regular season, DeBrusk’s desire became known to the public, and he quickly became the archenemy number one in Boston.
“I feel bad about alienating some people,” DeBrusk lamented. In Boston, you’ll find a variety of fan groups. Doing it is not an attractive task. Regarding my own career, I simply felt frantic. I was in need of a shift. While they sought a trade, the Bruins decided it was best to bench DeBrusk. Nevertheless, he was thrust back into the spotlight and the roster due to a series of injuries sustained by other team members.There was no change to DeBrusk’s standing in the locker room, even if he was still reviled by Bruins fans. He despised being in Boston, but he realised he could only get out of his jam by continuing to be an asset to the Bruins.
“It was quite awkward when it came out,” DeBrusk remarked. The following day at the rink was a real pain. The men in the room were instrumental in my escape from that predicament, and I had conversations with them. They were understanding and supportive throughout, and they never left my side. They got that I was looking for a way to extend my NHL career and improve my chances of success. Simultaneously with the 2022 NHL trade deadline, DeBrusk retracted his trade request and inked a two-year deal with the Bruins. Under the tutelage of the Bruins’ newly-hired head coach, Jim Montgomery, DeBrusk had his finest individual season the following year, contributing 50 points.
That’s not to say that DeBrusk didn’t want things to turn out, he just says it. Things did, in fact, start to fit together again. If I had been there four years ago, I never would have spotted this. It was illuminating for my own growth. Walking on eggshells and always feeling like I was up against something forced me to mature quickly. Perhaps it was too soon, but in hindsight, it led me to where I am now. With the Vancouver Canucks, DeBrusk finally has a chance to start a new chapter in his career. The Canucks’ November 26th game against the Bruins at TD Garden will be DeBrusk’s first return to the venue.
