‘Not getting the effort required’
Bruins bench DeBrusk amid struggles
Jake DeBrusk‘s spiraling struggles have finally led to what had increasingly seemed like an inevitable move from the Bruins’ coaching staff.
When the B’s communications staff tweeted out the forward lines and defense pairs for Tuesday’s night’s game against the New York Islanders, it did not come as much of a surprise that DeBrusk’s name was nowhere to be found.
When you score one goal in 17 games, a healthy scratch can be expected. And it was hardly a snap decision.
“We’ve tried different angles with Jake,” said coach Bruce Cassidy after the morning skate. “He’s met one-on-one with myself, he’s met with coaches one-on-one — Joe (Sacco) and Jay (Pandolfo) — he’s met with lines, he’s talked to some of the veteran guys. At the end of the day, we’re not quite getting out of Jake what we want. Some of that is circumstantial and situational. He’s moved around, been hurt. His center he’s played (David Krejci) with in the past has been hurt. But I still feel he’s been given ice time to perform to the best of his ability.
“We just feel we’re not getting the effort required. It’s not always about the scoresheet. It’s about being one of 20 guys to help you win. Some nights it’s there and some nights it’s not. Again, we’ve tried different messaging with the player. Sometimes going upstairs and taking a look is not a bad way to go and put a different perspective on it. You have a better appreciation of being in there and maybe educating yourself on things you see from up top that you see maybe a little easier than you would in live action. At the end of the day, he’s not