Bruins
Jake DeBrusk was on tempo for 35 objectives over 82 video games final season with the Bruins.
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A painful 2023 offseason is nearing an finish for the Boston Bruins.
Within the span of two months, the Bruins have undergone some of the vital expertise drains in current reminiscence.
Together with the retirements of each Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, a extreme cap crunch prompted a sell-off commerce of Taylor Corridor, and hamstrung Boston in its efforts to retain Tyler Bertuzzi and Dmitry Orlov in free company.
However as a retooling Bruins roster units its sights on 2023-24, Don Sweeney and Boston’s front-office personnel nonetheless have one order of enterprise to show to — the way forward for 26-year-old winger Jake DeBrusk.
Though the Bruins needs to be flush with cap house subsequent summer time, Boston may need some readability on a pending UFA like DeBrusk earlier than he formally hits the open market subsequent offseason.
However what sort of “readability” are the Bruins precisely in search of with a participant like DeBrusk?
Because the Bruins head into the post-Bergeron period, the highest focus for Sweeney and his workers is constructing a stout basis for the longer term with a purpose to assure sustainable success.
All issues thought-about, they’re already in a great spot.
Boston has a 60-goal scorer in David Pastrnak and two Norris-caliber defensemen in Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm signed by at the very least 2030. Jeremy Swayman might be due a pay elevate subsequent summer time, however is among the prime younger netminders within the sport. Kids like Mason Lohrei, Matthew Poitras, and Georgii Merkulov provide hope for the longer term.
However does a winger like DeBrusk additionally issue into the combo as a participant value retaining as a franchise fixture within the years forward?
Given the returns he put forth final season, DeBrusk looks like a top-six weapon value retaining for the lengthy haul.
With 119 objectives and 226 factors over 385 profession video games with the Bruins, DeBrusk has been a productive ahead for Boston since making his debut again in 2017. However the winger has been susceptible to some peaks and valleys so far as his manufacturing goes, particularly earlier in his profession.
However final season was a step in the precise path for DeBrusk, who appeared rejuvenated after Boston’s teaching change.
Together with his commerce request within the rearview, DeBrusk was usually deployed as a top-line winger subsequent to Bergeron and Brad Marchand — scoring 27 objectives and posting a career-high 50 factors over 68 video games in 2022-23.
Had he not missed six weeks of the season after struggling a damaged fibula in the course of the 2023 Winter Traditional, DeBrusk was on tempo for 35 objectives. Over his final 82 regular-season video games (together with the 2021-22), the affable winger posted 37 objectives and 66 factors.
Looks like a participant value retaining round, particularly provided that he’s simply getting into his prime.
“It was clearly a loopy 12 months in the past at this time limit and even earlier than that,” DeBrusk stated again in Might. “I did really feel fortunate. I felt fortunate to be [in Boston] each day. Even simply with the beginning that we had as a gaggle. With the fellows on this locker room, it simply felt particular, and I attempted to take each second I might of any day that I used to be right here, and I used to be simply actually grateful for the chance.”
However what sort of contract will DeBrusk command, particularly with the NHL’s salary-cap ceiling set to soar subsequent summer time?
Sure, the Bruins are projected to have over $29 million in cap house subsequent summer time if the cap jumps as much as at the very least $87.5 million. Nonetheless, Boston doesn’t wish to shed an enormous chunk of it on simply DeBrusk, given Swayman’s subsequent pay elevate and the workforce’s hopes of including a top-six pivot in free company.
Because the Bruins ramp up negotiations, Sweeney and Co. might choose to supply a deal corresponding to the one which Brandon Hagel simply signed with the Lightning final week. Hagel, 25, simply signed an eight-year contract extension with an annual cap hit of $6.5 million.
Though that time period is critical, the Bruins might abdomen it if they’ll preserve a possible 30-goal scorer in DeBrusk round $6-6.5 million per season.
Locking in a participant with that cap hit earlier than the cap actually surges subsequent summer time (and certain, the summer time after that) ought to make that contract age effectively, just like how McAvoy’s $9.5 million cap hit by 2030 ought to proceed to look higher and higher over time.
Though Hagel is a bit youthful than DeBrusk, each wingers provide related skillsets. Hagel scored 30 objectives and posted 64 factors over 81 video games final season, whereas DeBrusk’s 82-game tempo final 12 months had him tabbed for 35 objectives and 64 factors.
In some respects, DeBrusk presents much more worth given the strides he’s made on the defensive finish.
Though a few of his improved D-zone play might need been a byproduct of enjoying with Bergeron for a majority of his 5v5 reps, DeBrusk additionally developed right into a trusty contributor on the highest penalty-kill unit within the league, averaging 1:22 of shorthanded TOI per sport. When his toes are shifting, DeBrusk is a difference-maker down each ends of the ice.
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DeBrusk’s extra well-rounded skillset might see him command a bit greater than Hagel if Boston intends on getting a deal finished earlier than subsequent summer time.
But when $6.5 million is usually a appropriate start line for each events, the onus falls on the Bruins to attempt to get a deal finished earlier than the common season ramps up.
Though Boston might choose to play the ready sport to see if DeBrusk can replicate that 2022-23 manufacturing with out Bergeron driving play down the center, such a transfer additionally invitations the chance of DeBrusk additional bolstering his worth.
On the very worst, DeBrusk nonetheless holds loads of worth as a 25+ aim scorer with a promising defensive sport.
DeBrusk is a captivating asset on Boston’s roster, given his excessive upside and his coveted skillset that might additionally make him a useful commerce chip if issues go south for the 2023-24 roster.
But when a Bruins roster reliant on its stingy defensive and stout goaltending can stay aggressive, retaining one in every of their few confirmed offensive conduits up entrance in DeBrusk stands as one of the best transfer — each in 2023-24 and particularly within the years forward.
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