Jake DeBrusk will 'just focus on hockey' as contract negotiations loom

Jake DeBrusk is no stranger to his place in Boston being in question. 

The 26-year-old is entering his fourth round of contract negotiations with the Bruins, and one trade request from 2021-22 that continues to fade further and further into the rearview, something he feels "grateful" for, as he said at breakup day in May. 

But all is well in DeBrusk's Black and Gold existence, as he enters the final year of a two-year deal, paying him $4 million per season. Even with the turmoil that surrounded him barely a year and a half ago, the Western Canada kid can't imagine himself playing anywhere other than Boston. 

"I'm hoping to stay. It's the only team that I know and the team that I grew up with," DeBrusk told NHL.com's Derek Van Diest at the Perry Pearn 3 vs. 3 Hockey Camp in Edmonton last week. "Hopefully it goes in that direction, and we'll see how it goes."

The Edmonton native is a pending unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career as he reaches the conclusion of his third contract with the B's, which followed his entry-level deal (three years, $863,333 cap hit), his first bridge deal (two years, $3.675 million cap hit) and the current bridge. 

"It's not my first time going through this. It's my third time my contract is up with them," DeBrusk said. "I kind of know what to expect, although it's a little bit different with now being a UFA."

The speedy winger is coming off a career season that saw him set a new best for points (50) and tie his previous high for goals (27) in 64 games after a fractured fibula and a hand injury sustained during the Winter Classic held him out of 18 games in the regular season. He added four goals and two helpers in the B's seven-game series against the Florida Panthers in the first round of the playoffs.

At the time of his injuries, DeBrusk was heating up, potting the game-tying and game-winning goals late in the third period against the Penguins at Fenway Park as part of a stretch with seven points (5g, 2a) in six games. He kept it up upon his return with nine points (5g, 4a) in his first nine games back in the lineup. 

Over a full 82 games, he would have been on pace for 35 goals and 64 points. Given how hot he was when he went down and when he returned, he might have had an outside shot at the 40-goal neighborhood. 

“Last year, when I got injured in the Winter Classic, I was just really starting to come into my game, so it made me a little bit angry because I thought I was going to go on kind of a heater there, which probably would have ended up being 30 or 35 (goals),” DeBrusk said. “But it’s easy to say that, and everyone starts at zero and you go from there.

“If I stay healthy, I think I can score 30 this season. I’ve knocked on the door twice with 27 (also in 2018-19), and I have 25 in there as well (in 2021-22). I think if I stay healthy, that’s obviously the goal, to finally get to that 30 mark.”

While he has a penchant for success on the power play (6g, 8a on the PP in 2022-23), especially as his effectiveness around the crease grows – something Boston will look to utilize with Tyler Bertuzzi off to Toronto – it's his evolving 5-on-5 game that carries the most promise for DeBrusk's long-term outlook in the Spoked-B. 

His 19 goals and 75 individual high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick, were the most at 5-on-5 in his career. He currently ranks in the 86th percentile for even-strength offense, per JFresh Hockey. DeBrusk is also in the 88th percentile for wins above replacement (WAR) and the 93rd percentile for goals per 60 minutes (G/60). 

Those numbers rank higher than Brandon Hagel, who recently landed an eight-year extension with a $6.5 million cap hit with the Tampa Bay Lightning, coming off a 30-goal, 64-point run over 81 games – practically right in line with DeBrusk's pace last year. The 25-year-old is in the 82nd percentile for WAR, 72nd for even-strength offense and 76th for G/60. DeBrusk also has Hagel on even-strength defense, too (79th percentile v. 36th), which speaks to his improvements as a 200-foot player, which saw him nearly double his time on the penalty kill, averaging 1:22 per game shorthanded. Playing alongside Patrice Bergeron likely helped, too. Hagel saw similar returns at 5-on-5 (17g, 90 individual high-danger chances) and on the power play (7g, 6a) with the Bolts in 2022-23, too.

While Hagel's deal can serve as a strong comparable for DeBrusk, given the latter's 200-foot play over his most recent sample, it's not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison. Last month, I took a quick look at what some other comparables might be:

If DeBrusk continues his strong run of form and things play out as expected for the Bruins, he'll surely be a prime extension candidate. Some comparable players (in terms of production) entering contract years could be Mats Zuccarello, Jonathan Marchesseault or Jordan Eberle. AFP Analytics projects Zuccarello to earn $6.083 million in an extension, Marchesseault to earn $6.237 million and Eberle to earn $5.336 million. Perhaps an extension for DeBrusk could come in around the $6 million neighborhood over six years, but that's purely speculative.

The $6.5 million range may seem more likely now, and perhaps he could net higher if his two-way play holds up sans Bergeron. The price tag could skyrocket if DeBrusk pops for a 40-goal pace as the season progresses. Boston's standing in the Eastern Conference playoff picture could also go a long way in determining his future, considering he'd likely be their best trade asset at the deadline if they're out of it. If DeBrusk and Brad Marchand can continue to drive play in all three zones at 5-on-5, it should make life easy on Charlie Coyle, who's penciled in to start the year as the 1C. 

“You start from Game 1, just like any other season,” DeBrusk said of his outlook for this upcoming season. “You want to build your game and you want to improve on what you can do out there and try to earn more opportunity. I think it’s one of those things where we’re not really concerned with what people say about our team. I think we’re a pretty solid group, we have lots of guys that are there that got us to that point, (and) we added a couple of guys at the deadline. Some guys that have left does change things, but I’m focused on Game 1. It’s the only way to do it.”

But with DeBrusk wanting to stay, being a home-grown contributor in the top six as well as his place as really the only piece Sweeney has to show for the 2015 first round (even if Jakub Zboril exists), it's likely the feelings are mutual with the Bruins' brass, especially if DeBrusk can finally hit that next threshold as he enters his prime. 

With captain's practices starting up this week at Warrior Ice Arena and training camp less than three weeks away, it's not unreasonable to expect the buzz around DeBrusk's contract situation to pick up. No. 74 will field the anticipated questions surrounding his status, as will Don Sweeney when he eventually addresses the media. 

For now, expect to hear a lot of, 'I'll leave that to my agent,' from the player and plenty about exploring options as talks progress from the front office. It's already started on DeBrusk's end as the winger looks to find that next level after injuries prevented him from doing so last season. 

"That's why I have an agent [Rick Valette], and I told him I wanted to stay out of this one and in time, it'll be nice when it all gets done," he told Van Diest before later adding, "I'm not too focused on that. I've kind of tested the waters before, and I'm just going to focus on hockey."