Does Jake DeBrusk still want out of Boston?
NHL players request trades from their teams every now and then, and for various reasons. It could be a personal matter, or maybe they don't get along with a coach, and sometimes players just need a fresh start somewhere else.
The latter was Jake Debrusk's reasoning earlier this season.
Last summer, it was reported that the forward requested a trade from the Boston Bruins. It didn't become official to the public until DeBrusk was a healthy scratch for a game against the Vancouver Canucks back in November. General manager Don Sweeney said he would try his best to honour his request by the trade deadline. Instead, Debrusk signed a two-year, $8,000,000 contract on March 21st, 2022 (Trade Deadline day), hoping it would make it easier to find a suitor without his upcoming RFA status.
As all Bruins fans know, Jake Debrusk didn't quit on the team and actually had a breakout second half of the season. In 52 games played since January 1st, 2022, the winger had 20 goals and 14 assists after finding a home on the top line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. He also had 2 goals and 2 assists in 7 playoff games.
DeBrusk recently spoke to the media when the team was attending their "break up day" to clean out their lockers. He was asked if his trade request still stands:
Listen to the rest of Jake's interview below:
If DeBrusk still does want out of Boston, this summer is the perfect time to trade the 25-year-old for the Bruins. In the last half of the season and playoffs, he raised his trade value as high as it's ever been in his career, so Don Sweeney has to take advantage of that. The team needs the cap-space and also some more draft picks, and even a top-six centre, so the GM may have a lot of suitors for DeBrusk.
