DeBrusk’s Days in Boston Could Be Coming to an End.

“I’m hoping to stay [with the Boston Bruins]. It’s the only team that I know and the team I grew up with. Hopefully it goes in that direction, and we’ll see how it goes. That’s why I have an agent, and I told him I wanted to stay out of this one and in time, it’ll be nice when it gets done.”

Jake DeBrusk – August 2023

“We’re going to have communication with Jake and his representation [and] we’d like to know id Jake indeed does want to be here. And hopefully, we can find common ground.”

Don Sweeney – September 2023

Now five months later and just 2 weeks from trade deadline day, there is no deal and the Bruins need to decide whether to trade an asset or lose him for nothing, or should they consider DeBrusk their “own rental” heading into post deadline and the playoffs. One can only assume term and dollars have been the hold up. But let’s not dismiss that we are in 2024 and the current CBA expires in 2026 and agents across the board will be looking for lockout protection of some sort for their clients. The Bruins only hand that out to their elite, core players.

But there is a new wrinkle.

A source with knowledge of the situation tells Dom – Hockey that teams have contacted the Bruins about DeBrusk’s availability and offers have come in but not to the point that Sweeney is ready to pull the trigger.

In other words, not enough. Teams are well aware of the Bruins cap situation and that the Bruins need to move out cap dollars in order to make another deal(s). Hence, lowball offers. However, as we approach trade deadline day, those offers will only go up when they realize that DeBrusk may be their only reasonable option and if you have at least two teams interested, that can create a bidding war. Patience required, but time is running out.

However, Sweeney is not in a selling position and is looking to add and DeBrusk could be enticing to a potential trade partner under the right circumstances. The Bruins have been linked to Noah Hanifin for some time but lately you could add Jacob Middleton and Alexandre Carrier. Not that long ago they were linked to Dante Fabbro.

Sweeney’s best option, if he is looking for a hockey trade, is to allow his trade partner the opportunity to speak with DeBrusk’s camp in advance to see if a deal can be reached on a new contract. Then Sweeney could do a sign and trade or it could be a trade and sign depending on the parameters of the contract. A signed DeBrusk, or one about to sign is much more valuable than a DeBrusk heading into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

With the lack of a new contract in place for so long and Sweeney taking calls on DeBrusk along with the fact he is trying to find a deal to help the Bruins now and the future, it looks as though DeBrusk’s days in Boston may come to an end.

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