BOSTON — Jake DeBrusk is off to a slow start to the 2023-24 NHL season. But it’s certainly not for lack of effort.
The Bruins forward has just 11 points in Boston’s first 25 games. DeBrusk has had quality looks — and even some quality shots — but he’s been snake-bitten when it comes to scoring. When it comes to his game, DeBrusk assessed how he feels about it after Monday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena.
“I feel like it’s all right. Obviously it’s been a tough year offensively, but I feel like I’m doing different things that can help the team win,” DeBrusk said. “Obviously we’ve had some injuries and some things that have changed the lines the last little bit, but there’s obviously a lot more to be had there. It’s one of those things where pretty much everyone’s really focused on the details, especially with my game. Obviously I just kind of try to do my best wherever I am.”
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Pavel Zacha suffered an upper-body injury that knocked him from the final two periods of Saturday’s 5-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes, which caused coach Jim Montgomery to shuffle up his lines quite a bit. DeBrusk has played both left and right wing this season, and has had different linemates in games. For someone who’s in an offensive slump, you might think not having consistency with linemates or even the position would cause DeBrusk to lose some confidence.
But that’s not the case. Because DeBrusk’s versatility can help the Bruins win games.
“I think that’s the good thing about being on a good team as well. It’s good players and obviously you want to be productive or help align good chemistry,” DeBrusk said. “Whatever line you’re on, you want to be a good guy in a sense and I think it goes hand in hand. I can play both sides, pretty much any situation. So it’s one of those things that I have confidence in my game and that I know it can help us win. And we have been doing that so far.”
DeBrusk admitted that even though consistency would be nice, “that’s not the reality of hockey.”
“I think it’s one of those things where I’m kind of being used differently. So I understand that,” he said. “I’m just trying to work on that part of my game and you know, there’s a bigger picture here in a sense. But it’s been frustrating.”
The 26-year-old is no stranger to having down years. But he also knows the feeling of having good years, too. Just last season, for example, DeBrusk had 27 goals and 23 helpers. He easily would have reached 30 had he not missed time with a fractured leg suffered in the Winter Classic. The 2021-22 season wasn’t all positive for DeBrusk for a number of reasons, but he still finished with 25 goals.
There’s still plenty of hockey left to be played. And at any moment DeBrusk could bust out of his slump. He remains confident he can generate offense by staying focused when he’s on the ice during his shifts.
DeBrusk will look to start finding his offense Wednesday when the Bruins travel to New Jersey to take on the Devils.
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