BOSTON — There’s still a little less than five weeks until the NHL’s March 8 trade deadline by deals by the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets to bolster their lineups in the last week have been a reminder that the deadline is coming soon.
In addition to any move they make to bolster their roster, the Bruins may have a decision to make with Jake DeBrusk and he knows it.
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DeBrusk is in the final year of a two-year deal for $4 million per year and will be an unrestricted free agent after the season at 27 year old. But if a deal isn’t complete or at least close to done before the trade deadline, would the Bruins consider moving him rather than risk losing him for nothing in the offseason? DeBrusk has played well in recent weeks.
DeBrusk’s highs have been very high. When he’s on his game he’s good at both ends of the ice, on the power play and penalty kill and has scored some clutch goals. When he’s down he can go long stretches without scoring and has played himself into being a healthy scratch before. How the combination translates into an annual dollar figure isn’t easy to figure out.
If the Bruins were to deal DeBrusk, they’d have more salary cap space to work with for adding another player and could also add either a prospect or a draft pick. But they’d have to replace his 12 goals and 13 assists in the lineup and fill his spot on the power play and penalty-killing units.
But DeBrusk, who once asked to be traded under Bruce Cassidy, now doesn’t want to leave. He’s hoping to sign an extension.
“It’s felt pretty real for me all year, to be honest with you. Ever since even the start of training camp. It’s one of those things you want to get done as fast as possible,” he said. “But we’re here now and when it comes to thoughts on that I don’t really have any. It’s a month and a half until the trade deadline and I hope it gets done quick.
“I always have optimism,” he added. “I hope it gets done. I have an agent for a reason. I’ve obviously been in this organization for my whole career. I know where I stand in this lineup. I know where I am with the guys in this room and the city and low. With the highs and lows. It’s more just playing my game. I’m just focusing on the little things and everything should take care of itself.”
He’s not the only Bruins player in this predicament. Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort are also wrapping up longer deals with no extensions on the immediate horizon.
DeBrusk admitted he might not be as relaxed if the deadline gets closer with no resolution.
“Probably if it isn’t done around that time, I’ll probably be a little more nervous,” he said.
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