Report: Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk asks for trade
Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk has reportedly asked for a trade.
DeBrusk, 25, was drafted by the Bruins in the first round, 14th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft but hasn’t materialized the way the team hoped.
News on his trade request was first reported by TSN’s Ryan Rishaug.
In 261 games with the B’s, DeBrusk has recorded 70 goals and 70 assists in 261 games, but has seen his production drop off from his initial two seasons. In his first 138 games played in his first two seasons, DeBrusk scored 43 goals and 85 points, but in the 123 since, he’s scored just 27 goals and 55 points.
DeBrusk’s name has been floated in trade circles for some time and last season, his name had been linked to his hometown team, the Edmonton Oilers. This past offseason, he was listed on Frank Seravalli’s trade target list.
With three goals and six points in 17 games this year, DeBrusk was a healthy scratch Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks.
“I think what happens with Jake and what we’ve seen over the last few years is, like when the production is there you’re getting more second effort, they kind of go hand in hand,” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “When it’s not there, we lose a little bit of that. That’s been the ask of him for a number of years now — no drop off on this side of the ledger just because the production isn’t there.
“Any 20-goal scorer still only scores once every four games if they’re playing every game, more or less, so you still need the other things. A little bit more of an ask there on second effort away from the puck, working to keep it out of your net, etc. We understand certain guys can be physical when they’re not scoring or bringing something, and for him, it’s foot speed, and I’d like to see that every night. I’d like to see him impact the game with his foot speed every night in some way shape or form, whether it’s the forecheck, attacking the net, the penalty kill, whatever the case may be.
“So, that’s where we’re at, and we’re starting to see that drop off again, so it’s a reminder, ‘Hey, bring us the effort and hopefully the production happens, but we need that.’”
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.