If these are the final weeks for Jake DeBrusk in a Bruins sweater, he's making the most of them

Throughout his tenure in Boston, Jake DeBrusk has never been one to remain tight-lipped on … well, just about any subject. 

Be it his candid reflections on his own game or musings on other sports, movies, etc., DeBrusk has often been a beat reporter’s dream when it comes to his willingness to delve into just about whatever crosses his mind on any given day. 

That is, until late November — when his standing trade request first went public. 

Since then, it’s largely been radio silence from the disgruntled winger, whose request for a clean slate and fresh start elsewhere has yet to be granted close to three months later.

Speaking to the media on Thursday night in Seattle — his first press scrum since his trade request was shared for public consumption — DeBrusk didn’t budge when pressed on the rationale behind his desire to play elsewhere, or if he’s had any second thoughts on such a move over the following months. 

"To be honest, I had a meeting with the guys, I think when it first got out there. I told them I wouldn't be a distraction,” DeBrusk said. “So I respectfully plead the fifth on all those (questions). I just want to talk about the game and stuff. And obviously, like you said, I haven't talked to you guys in a while. So it's a fair question, but I won't be answering that."

So no, it doesn’t seem as though DeBrusk is necessarily reversing course on his desire to start anew, and potentially cash in on a new deal this upcoming summer. And instead of sharing his sentiments on the crossroads he finds himself in or delving into just how his career in Boston seems to be reaching its end, DeBrusk instead seems intent on letting his play do the talking these days.

The Bruins likely have no qualms with such a development, especially if DeBrusk keeps contributing at this current level.

Not only is an engaged DeBrusk raising his stock on the trade market ahead of the March 21 deadline, but he’s helping Boston collect points and right the ship on his way out the door, as evidenced by his two-goal showing against the Kraken.

On a night where the Bruins very well could have dropped a point or two to a dreadful Kraken club, a red-hot DeBrusk served as Boston’s salvation, tucking a tumbling puck past Philipp Grubauer in the first period of play before ending things 33 seconds into overtime with a game-winning tally from a tight angle.

As Don Sweeney and the Bruins continue to scour the market in search of a suitable return for the 25-year-old streaky scorer, DeBrusk is hitting his stride at the right time, with Thursday’s showing now putting him at four goals over his past three games.

And even though the 2021-22 campaign has seen DeBrusk trudge through the peaks and valleys that come with his hot-and-cold scoring stretches, the winger is still tied with Taylor Hall for fifth on the B’s in goals scored with 11 through 46 games. 

“He had his legs tonight. He was hard on pucks,” Bruce Cassidy said of DeBrusk. “Obviously attacked well on the overtime goal, good to go down the forward side, recognition. …. When Jake is skating, I don't think it matters which wing he's on, to be honest with you. ... Earned his minutes. Really nice job for us. Really good job. That's what Jake can do. He can score goals.”

Be it Boston riding the hot hand or looking to extract more production out of DeBrusk ahead of the deadline feeding frenzy, Thursday stood as DeBrusk’s first extended look on the top line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. 

Ironically, both of his tallies at Climate Pledge Arena came when he was out skating with a different assortment of forwards. But Cassidy was still pleased with the overall play of the new 63-37-74 line, with Boston holding a 9-3 edge in shots on goal during their 9:51 of 5v5 ice time together. 

“It's a great honor to play with two Hall of Famers and you just want to try to get on pucks and try to win some races on the forecheck and take away the goalie's eyes, honestly,” DeBrusk said. …   The reason why they're both so good and have been for so long is how hard they work and how they keep plays alive. 

“And my expectation was to try to stay with them in that sense of things. Just really be focused on the battle aspect of everything, getting in there. You're not going to win every battle. But I was just trying to have speed. If I had my legs, I know everything is going to be fine."

As we’ve said countless times before when it comes to DeBrusk’s future in Boston, the best way for all parties to benefit following his trade request was for the winger to raise his value with some strong play down the stretch. 

Some factors outside of DeBrusk's (and Boston’s) control have played a part in why he hasn’t been moved yet — whether it be the team’s COVID outbreak in December, Marchand’s multiple run-ins with the Department of Player Safety and plenty other hurdles.

But Boston is also not trading a player with DeBrusk’s skillset for pennies on the dollar. Whether it be part of a larger package for an impact top-six forward / top-four D — or a straight swap for an NHLer with similar tantalizing potential (and perhaps uneven production) — the Bruins ideally want to secure a strong return for DeBrusk. But that only becomes tenable if he attracts more clubs with a trademark O-zone heater. 

If DeBrusk’s current stretch of strong play doesn’t wane, he could get his wish in short order — and the Bruins could have a sizable return heading back to Boston. 

Sure seems like a win-win for all involved.

But if this is indeed the final stretch of DeBrusk’s time in a black-and-gold sweater, it sure seems like he’s intent on going out on a high note.

"It means respect, right? And it means that they think I'm a good guy and a good teammate,” DeBrusk said of his teammates sticking up for him amid his trade request. “And that's all you really want to be at the end of the day. You play in that room for all those guys. And obviously, lots of memories, considering playoff runs, and I've grown up in this organization. 

“So that's kind of another thing I said to them, too. I'll try to keep that the same. Obviously, there's gonna be down days or up days, but to hear them say that is obviously really nice. It kind of just amplifies how close we are as a group. And I've always said how close of a group we have. And I've been very blessed with that.”