DeBrusk starts to come of age
Showing more consistency with veterans on the top line
When Jake DeBrusk arrived in Boston, he was a goofy,
ballcap-flipped-backwards kid who seemingly did not
have a care in the world. He could score goals and, for better or worse, that’s about all that mattered to him.
Well, a lot has changed since his first two seasons when, under the guidance of veteran center David Krejci, he scored 16 and then 27
goals and appeared to be on his way to becoming a highimpact NHL wing. But then
he hit some rough patches in the COVID-disrupted season
of 2019-20 until his game bottomed out last season when the restrictions caused by the virus appeared to weigh on him.
He lost his spot with Krejci, he got COVID, bounced
around the lineup, was a healthy scratch and wound up managing just 4-9-14 totals in 41 games.
Over the summer, DeBrusk made a trade request, one that was made public days after he was a healthy scratch in November. He heard some boos at the Garden. Right up until the time of the trade deadline on March 21, there was strong speculation that he’d be moved.
That kind of adversity — albeit some of his own making — could either break a young player or make him stronger. It appears the latter has happened. Being placed on a line with a couple of possible Hall of Famers doesn’t hurt, either.
After scoring in the B’s 2-1 overtime win in Tampa on Friday, DeBrusk has seven goals in seven games and he’ll go into Sunday’s matinee in Washington with 15 in his last 23.
But it is not a case of DeBrusk simply reverting back to player he was back in his early years. His game is more well rounded, as best evidenced by his play in overtime on Friday. He first thwarted a Brayden Point
scoring attempt at the top of the crease, got the puck
going the other way and joined the rush. When his first set-up for Charlie Coyle
didn’t work, he threw his body into a puck battle
behind the net and it bounced out to Coyle for the game-winner.
When meeting with reporters in Washington on
Saturday, he still wore his cap turned backwards, but
the 25-year-old DeBrusk spoke of his turnaround with some hard-earned wisdom. He said there was some similarities to when his 27-goal
season, but also important differences.
“Obviously the finishing part is there, but mostly I think it’s the overall maturity
to my game,” said DeBrusk. “I’m older and I obviously
went through some ups in that season and some downs. I definitely feel it more when things are going well this time around, whereas before
I just I blindly thought that this was going to keep happening. It’s one of those things where it’s nice to feel like you earn it. Those are the best goals.”
When he put DeBrusk with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, Bruce Cassidy’s one piece of advice was
that the two veterans demand a lot of their linemate. DeBrusk has learned that the coach wasn’t lying.
“I think the biggest thing that I’ve noticed since joining the line is how hard they
push you and the expectation of what they want out of
the line,”said DeBrusk. “Obviously they had a lot of success over their careers and rightfully so, but I think that was something that was a little different for me – not necessarily different, but it gets constantly put in your head. And it’s one of those things that you have so much respect for those players that you don’t want to let them down and you just try to bring any element you can to help.”
Cassidy will obviously take the goals from DeBrusk. But what impressed him was how he played when he went through an eight-game stretch when he only got one assist and no goals.
“He certainly has been streaky in he past, but what I like about right now is he got on a bit of a roll, then he got off the scoresheet for a while but I don’t think his game fell off like maybe it had in the past where he may have worried more. He kept playing,” said Cassidy. “Credit Bergy and Marchy for pulling him through in those situations, probably saying the right things. So he gets out of it quicker. That’s what I’ve liked, he kept his habits while it wasn’t going in the net.”
And DeBrusk no longer takes the good times for granted.
“There’s just an appreciation of when it is going in – and being hungry for me,” said DeBrusk. “You don’t
want it to stop. You want it to keep going and you’ve got to
work for it.”
Ullmark to start in Washington
The competition to be the Bruins No. 1 goalie is hardly over, but it seems there’s a new leader in the clubhouse. After his stellar work in Tampa, Linus Ullmark will get the start again in Washington. It’s the first time he’ll get
consecutive starts since
Tuukka Rask’s comeback attempt went off the rails in late January.
“He’s played well. Like
(Jeremy Swayman) earlier when he got on a bit of a roll
we gave him a few extra starts instead of just rotating and we’re going to do the same thing for Linus,” said Cassidy.
Cassidy said they could very well use both goalies in the playoffs out of necessity, considering both players will be in uncharted territory with regard to workload. Ullmark’s start on Sunday will be his 37th appearance, tying his career high, while each start is a career high for the rookie Swayman….
Neither David Pastrnak (core) or Hampus Lindholm
(knee) skated and will not play against the Capitals.
Cassidy said Josh Brown will likely play on Sunday.
B’s sign Buckeyes’ top scorer
The Bruins officially announced the signing of Ohio State forward Georgii Merkulov to a three-year entry level contract that kicks in next season.
The 21-year-old left shot forward will report to Providence on an amateur tryout agreement for the rest of this season.
As a freshman this past year, the 5-foot-11, 181-pound Merkulov led the Buckeyes in goalscoring (20) and points (34) with a plus-18 rating in 34 games. Before arriving
in Columbus, the Ryazan, Russia native played two seasons in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms, notching 20-53-73 points in 74 games.
Merkulov has been a teammate with one of the B’s top prospects, defenseman Mason Lohrei, at OSU. They were the Buckeyes two top scorers.
When Merkulov’s deal kicks in next year, it will have a NHL cap hit of $925,000.
The B’s have had some success in signing undrafted college free agents over the years, including Torey Krug, Kevan Miller and Noel Acciari.
They recently inked Marc McLaughlin out of Boston College, goalie Brandon Bussi
out of Western Michigan and
now Merkulov.