BOSTON — Jake DeBrusk knew the question and still smiled when he answered it.
How relieved was he that Friday’s 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline had come and gone and he was still a member of the Bruins?
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“I think it’s always a big one. It’s a relief for everyone in the room based on certain situations and how much you’re on Twitter,” DeBrusk said. “I’m still here. It’s definitely a sense of relief. You don’t know until 4 or 4:30. But I’m happy to be here. I’m just excited to move forward with the playoff push here and so forth.”
Because he’ll be an unrestricted free agent, there was some speculation that the Bruins might deal him, both to prevent losing him for nothing and to free up some cap space for other deals. He admitted he thought about it and had heard the rumors.
“But it’s inhuman not to think about those things, to be honest, but there’s lots of good support around here for me,” said DeBrusk, who has 15 goals and 18 assists this season. “There are guys on this team that I lean on, guys that were on that team that I lean on that reach out.”
DeBrusk, 27, said even when he’s tried to ignore the rumors and avoid social media, he ends up seeing it anyway.
“It kind of gets thrown in your face these days. I’ve seen a lot of heat on social media throughout my entire career to be honest,” he said. “There’s different things that get brought up. That’s just the way we live nowadays. Does it affect you? I think does in some ways. It’s easy to say it doesn’t, but it’s something that’s exciting as a fan and nerve-wracking as a player.”
DeBrusk said there’s been no progress toward an extension, but he’s hoping to stay a Bruin long-term.
“I guess nothing has changed on that side. It helps knowing that they want me to be here. It’s nice to be in Boston still,” he said and reiterated his hopes to stay. “I’ve said from the start. That hasn’t changed.”
