Despite a trade request that is still active, Jake DeBrusk has chosen to accept an extension offer from the Boston Bruins. DeBrusk’s new contract is a two-year, $4MM AAV pact that will take him through his age-27 season. TSN’s Chris Johnston reports that “the belief” is that the Bruins “still want to trade” DeBrusk, and believe that signing him to this extension makes him a more attractive trade asset. DeBrusk was due a $4.41MM qualifying offer this offseason from a team looking to retain his rights as a restricted free agent, but now that situation is swapped with a much clearer two-year deal that takes DeBrusk straight to unrestricted free agency when the contract expires.
For the Bruins, this contract makes DeBrusk a more cost-controlled asset than he previously was. Given how long the DeBrusk trade saga has lingered, it is possible that Boston was simply not getting the offers they deemed acceptable for DeBrusk and found that the uncertainty of his contract situation impeded making a satisfactory trade. With the extension, they have cleared up those murky financial waters and paved a path for an acquiring team to have a much clearer sense of the value they’d be receiving if they choose to acquire DeBrusk. It is a bit curious though, given that players looking at sign-and-trade situations typically get traded first and then sign their extension, as Boston did recently with Hampus Lindholm. One thing to note is that DeBrusk’s actual salary this season is $4.85MM, a significant increase from his $3.675MM cap hit, which may be a barrier keeping the Bruins from making a trade given how many teams are still reeling from the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
By signing this extension, DeBrusk cashes in on his recent performance and also bets on himself by signing for only a two-year term. DeBrusk has recently found a better fit in Boston as a winger on their first line. He has 15 goals and 26 points so far this season, numbers that are a nice improvement from last year’s miserable five-goal, 14-point campaign. Some still believe that DeBrusk, the 14th overall pick in the 2015 draft, has the potential to become a 30-goal scorer in the NHL, and any team acquiring him would likely be buying into that potential. Things can change quickly in the NHL, and DeBrusk is no stranger to that, having gone from 27 goals in 2018-19 to five in 2020-2021, so naturally there is risk for the player in signing a deal only two years in length. But with this extension, DeBrusk is betting on himself and the possibility of him realizing his potential with a long-desired change of scenery.
Sign-and-trade, now that his term has solidified & teams don’t have to wonder what they’re getting.
Trade incoming? Apparently Debrusk hasn’t rescinded his trade request
The “wishful thinking” is JT Miller. The price of these trades the last few days has been high. Even with the extension, the Bruins gave up a lot for Lindholm. I can only imagine what JT Miller would cost given his extra year of control.
DeBrusk, Lohrei, Studnicka, and maybe next years first too would be my guess. That puts the Bruins in a brutal situation for the future past next year. If they can somehow retail Lohrei and use Ahcan, Steen, Lauko or Beecher then that’s a huge win even if they don’t have picks in the first round this year and the first two rounds next year.
Harrison might be an interesting name too that could move the needle. Maybe another package looks like DeBrusk, Lohrei, Harrison, and this years 2nd.
Personally, I think these are steep prices to pay but it seems everything is on the table. Just do NOT trade Lysell. Preferably would like to keep Lohrei too but the D-corps is pretty much filled up for the next 3 years… interested to see what this extension means though.
It’s funny that in this crazy sellers market, NOW is the time that Sweeney decides to wheel & deal, flinging draft picks all over the place and taking on payroll. Realizing the roster dictates a win-now stance, it’s just amusing that Boston chose the most penalizing trade deadline environment of recent years to decide to “go for it.”
Yeah it’s definitely frustrating and the situation actually hurts the Bs even more from a leverage standpoint. Plus it’s also Sweeney’s last year under contract, so I’m sure he’s aware he might not even be the one that suffers losing the picks.
DeBrusk and a pick/prospect for Garland?
hes a bum
Thing is, if Boston’s all-in this year, they shouldn’t be dealing DeBrusk. He’s got a hot hand right now, and so far I haven’t seen a single rental likely to outproduce him.
With that, this seems like a damn risky move. $4 million would be a bargain for 2019 Jake, and not be terrible for 2020 Jake, but it’s a slight overpay for 2022 Jake and downright disaster for 2021 Jake. Who’s 2023 Jake going to be, and how does this hurt the Bruins with all the re-signings they need to do in the offseason?
my guess is, since he didn’t get moved, assuming he keeps the current pace/play he is on (or even 75% of his current hot handedness) he will have raised his stock enough to get something worthwhile back in return. my guess is Sweeney is crossing his fingers he finishes strong and can be flipped in the off-season for a semi-decent package.