Jake DeBrusk

Lore & Background

DeBrusk began his professional career with the Providence Bruins in 2016–17, scoring 19 goals and 30 assists in 74 games and helping the team reach the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Finals. His performance earned him a spot on Boston's opening night roster for 2017–18. In his first NHL game, he scored a goal and an assist against the Nashville Predators, with his father watching at TD Garden. He played regularly on the second line alongside David Krejčí and finished his rookie season with 16 goals and 27 assists.

DeBrusk established himself as a playoff performer during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, scoring five goals and two assists in a seven-game series victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, including the series-winning goal in Game 7. The following season, he scored 27 goals and helped the Bruins reach the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the St. Louis Blues in seven games. In the 2019–20 season, he scored 19 goals before the season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

DeBrusk's production declined sharply in the shortened 2020–21 season, with only five goals and nine assists in 41 games. He requested a trade from the Bruins on November 29, 2021, but later signed a two-year, $8 million extension on March 21, 2022, the day of the trade deadline. Despite the extension, his agent reiterated that DeBrusk still wanted to be traded, though no move occurred. He finished the 2021–22 season with 25 goals and 17 assists.

Reader's Guide

Jake DeBrusk's tenure with the Boston Bruins is notable for his immediate impact as a rookie and his consistent playoff production. He scored a goal in his first NHL game and became a reliable second-line winger, particularly alongside David Krejčí. His playoff performances, including a five-goal series against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018 and contributions to the Bruins' run to the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, highlighted his ability to elevate his game in high-stakes situations. However, his time in Boston was also marked by inconsistency, including a sharp drop in production during the 2020–21 season and a public trade request in November 2021. Despite the request, he signed a contract extension and continued to score, reaching 25 goals in 2021–22. His legacy with the Bruins is that of a talented but sometimes unsettled forward who delivered in key moments but never fully escaped the shadow of his trade demand.

Did You Know?

• Jake DeBrusk scored a natural hat trick on February 28, 2022, in a 7–0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
• He was selected for the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in 2015.
• DeBrusk's father, Louie DeBrusk, is a former NHL forward and colour commentator.
• He scored the series-winning goal in Game 7 of the 2018 first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.