Turning points for DeBrusk
Winger has gone from trade request to Masterson nominee
Jake DeBrusk has run the gamut this season. He’s gone from being a healthy scratch in November to a highly functioning member of the team’s top line for the last two months.
And while his future with the club remains a bit murky, he’s in a much better place than at this point last season, easily his worst as a pro. Last year, he had lost his place in the top six, was affected by the isolation created by the COVID restrictions, had a bout with the virus and finished with meager 5-9-14 totals in 41 games. Now, he’s back where he belongs up over 20 goals (23 going into Tuesday’s game against Florida) and four points behind his career high, which was 43 in his rookie season.
Not a bad turnaround. “A complete change from everything, pretty much, with how frustrating it was at the end of last year. Obviously I wasn’t happy with anything that was going on on the ice. And it’s definitely a different moment right now,” said DeBrusk on Tuesday morning. “It’s kind of interesting to play 82 games again. … It’s a matter of life being normal again. There’s fans in the stands and in our last game against Montreal, the crowd was pretty intense. It was pretty cool, obviously. There are just different types of things that make you remember what it was like to play in the National Hockey League, and that’s what we all love.”
DeBrusk was named the Boston nominee for the Masterton Trophy – given to player that best exemplified perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the sport – by the local chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Each team nominates a player and the winner will be announced during the finals.
It was an unconventional choice. DeBrusk had requested a trade last summer, it was made public by his agent in November, then reiterated before the trade deadline.
And if his most recent success has changed his mind, he’s not saying.
“I can’t comment on that now,” said DeBrusk, who wound up signing a twoyear extension worth $4 million annually. “It’s one of those things where I’m focused on winning the Stanley Cup with this team wherever I’m playing. There’s only three games left and the playoffs are approaching. That’s my main focus right now. I’m not thinking of anything else.”
But to his credit, he has not let that desire to leave affect his play negatively. In fact, he’s seemingly used the situation to refocus his game. He played well in both third and fourth line roles before he was told prior to the B’s game in Seattle on Feb. 24 that he would be bumping up to play with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. The move also entailed him moving over to his right side, something that had not gone well for him in previous assignments. Coach Bruce Cassidy had a long chat with him about it, as did his new linemates.
“It was more so if I was comfortable with being in that position and whether I was willing to give it a try. Obviously, I said yes. I think everybody would agree to that role,” said DeBrusk. “At the same time, you don’t want to lose, so you’ve got to bring it every single night, whether you’re not feeling it or things aren’t going in the net. I think we’ve generated a lot. It just hasn’t gone in the way we’ve wanted it to. It’s a good sign when you’re generating.”
Cassidy has not been hesitant to move DeBrusk in the lineup or even sit him. But he’s had no cause to take him off that line.
“Jake has done his part,” said Cassidy. “That was certainly a turning point.”
While it was a great opportunity for DeBrusk, it was also a challenge because of the elite matchups. He’s responded well.
“There’s not necessarily a bad No. 1 line in the league, so you know they’re going to have their best some nights and it’s about limiting those and trying to equal it if not make them pay on the other side of the ice,” said
DeBrusk. “That’s the biggest thing, knowing that our matchup’s going to see the best line, the best D pairing every single shift, whether it’s home or away. And obviously, that has a lot to do with the respect for how Bergy and Marchy play.”
But more and more, it has something to do with DeBrusk as well.
Third pairing coming into focus
Barring injury, it sounds like Cassidy will go with Derek Forbort and Connor Clifton as the third defensive pairing, which had been one of the bigger questions since the trade deadline acquisitions of Hampus Lindholm and Josh Brown.
That would mean Brown and Mike Reilly would be in the press box to start the series.
“I think (Forbort and Clifton’s)
game has been solid of late,” said Cassidy. “Now they’re going to have a bump along the way, like everybody. But they’ve played a lot together and they’re getting a good understanding of the expectations of what we need from them. …
The Bruins handed out some end-of-season hardware on Tuesday. Charlie McAvoy received the Eddie Shore Award given out by the Gallery Gods for the player he exudes the most hustle.
David Pastrnak received the Elizabeth Dufresne Award for the player who performed the best in home games.
Nick Foligno earned the John P. Bucyk Award for his charitable work.
Pastrnak, Marchand and Bergeron are the No. 1, 2 and 3 stars for the season.
The 7th Player Award will be given out prior to Thursday’s game against the Sabres.