Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Jake DeBrusk

Jake DeBrusk Rescinds Trade Request

at CDT | by 16 Comments

After initially requesting a trade from the Boston Bruins back in November, forward Jake DeBrusk has rescinded that request, reports TSN’s Ryan Rishaug. According to Rishaug, DeBrusks’s agent, Rick Valette and Bruins GM Don Sweeney spoke some time last week, Valette informing the Bruins that DeBrusk rescinded the request and would be happy to remain a member of the Bruins organization going forward. Rishaug adds that while DeBrusk could technically still be moved this offseason, it would be unlikely to happen at this point.

The news on DeBrusk is interesting, but perhaps not shocking, considering the sequence of events following the trade request last fall. Recall at the time, that DeBrusk had been dealing with being a healthy scratch, having just three goals and three assists in 17 games prior to the request. The 2015 first-round pick of the Bruins had a solid start to his career, putting up 120 points in 203 career games heading into 2020-21. That season, which included a myriad of unusual on and off ice changes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, caused many players to struggle, including DeBrusk, who had just five goals and nine assists in 41 games. But, those struggles continued into the start of the 2021-22 season, causing the Bruins to sit DeBrusk, and DeBrusk to ask for a trade in return.

It’s not clear how close the team ever came to moving the winger, but he did continue to play when asked, as was his contractual obligation, and in turn, he began to produce. Over the next 60 games after the request, DeBrusk would score an impressive 22 goals to go with 14 assists, finishing the season with 25 goals and 17 assists in 77 games. The strong performance would continue into the postseason, where he had a pair of goals and a pair of assists in Boston’s seven-game first-round loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

A return to form, and regular minutes in the lineup, as well as a trade deadline that came and went with DeBrusk not only still in Boston but with an extension in-hand, made it seem less and less likely that DeBrusk would want to leave the organization, however the request was apparently never rescinded until recently. Interestingly, between the end of the season and last week, the Bruins have had several key headlines that included the firing of Head Coach Bruce Cassidy, who was replaced late last week with Jim Montgomery, an extension with Sweeney, Patrice Bergeron’s apparent desire to return to the team next season, and several key injuries that have given increased importance to the rest of the team. Ultimately, DeBrusk and Valette have not publicly given an explanation on the change.

The extension DeBrusk signed on trade deadline day runs for two-years at $4MM per season, depositing him on the UFA market after the 2024 season. Hip surgery to Brad Marchand is expected to keep the superstar forward out of the lineup for several months to start next season, and as such, could serve to elevate DeBrusk’s role, with Boston needing to find offense on the wing from another outlet for the time being. Such an opportunity may not be enough on its own to convince DeBrusk to want to be in Boston, but is an attractive opportunity to build value ahead of his trip to the UFA market in a couple of years.

Bruins Notes: Sweeney, Marchand, DeBrusk

at CDT | by 2 Comments

The Boston Bruins climbed back into their first-round series several times before ultimately falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games, and now face an offseason of uncertainty. Captain Patrice Bergeron is a pending unrestricted free agent, and though he has explained he wants to return, will turn 37 in July. David Pastrnak could also use a new contract, as he is only signed for one more year before potentially hitting the open market in 2023.

But before those situations are dealt with, it’s another key member of the organization that needs a new deal. General manager Don Sweeney does not yet have a contract for net season, and when asked today about the situation, he told reporters including Matt Porter of the Boston Globe that he expects the situation to be resolved “in short order.” Sweeney has been in charge of the team since 2015.

  • Like every team after a long grueling season, there are also injuries to deal with. Brad Marchand has a hip issue that may require offseason surgery, according to Porter, though the final decision has not been made on a treatment path. The 34-year-old forward had another outstanding season for the Bruins this year, scoring 32 goals and 80 points, before being their most effective player in the postseason as well. While some of the other players on the Boston roster may still get more press (at least for their positive accomplishments), it’s Marchand that has been one of the most consistent forces in the entire league the last six seasons.
  • It’s not just contract negotiations and injury timelines though, the Bruins are also still dealing with the Jake DeBrusk situation. The 25-year-old winger put in a trade request some time ago, and despite some late-season success after moving higher in the lineup, things don’t appear to have officially changed. DeBrusk told reporters earlier this week that he hadn’t really thought about it since the deadline, but Sweeney explained today that he doesn’t think anything has changed, “other than he’s happier.” Whether that means he’ll rescind the request and stick around is unclear at this point, but he already has a contract extension through 2023-24.

Nominees Announced For 2022 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

at CDT | by 10 Comments

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is given out annually to the NHL player who exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The award has been voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association since 1968, and today they announced their nominees for 2022.

Past winners of the award include Oskar Lindblom (2021), Bobby Ryan (2020), Robin Lehner (2019), Brian Boyle (2018), Craig Anderson (2017), Jaromir Jagr (2016), Devan Dubnyk (2015), Dominic Moore (2014), and Josh Harding (2013).

Below are the nominees from each team:

Anaheim Ducks – Ryan Getzlaf

Arizona Coyotes – Andrew Ladd

Boston Bruins – Jake DeBrusk

Buffalo Sabres – Kyle Okposo

Calgary Flames – Chris Tanev

Carolina Hurricanes – Antti Raanta

Chicago Blackhawks – Dylan Strome

Colorado Avalanche – Jack Johnson

Columbus Blue Jackets – Justin Danforth

Dallas Stars – Tyler Seguin

Edmonton Oilers – Kris Russell

Florida Panthers – Anthony Duclair

Los Angeles Kings – Blake Lizotte

Minnesota Wild – Jared Spurgeon

Montreal Canadiens – Carey Price

Nashville Predators – Mark Borowiecki

New Jersey Devils – Nico Hischier

New York Islanders – Zdeno Chara

New York Rangers – Chris Kreider

Ottawa Senators – Anton Forsberg

Philadelphia Flyers – Kevin Hayes

Pittsburgh Penguins – Brian Boyle

St. Louis Blues – Vladimir Tarasenko

Seattle Kraken – Jaden Schwartz

Tampa Bay Lightning – Alex Killorn

Toronto Maple Leafs – Ondrej Kase

Vancouver Canucks – Luke Schenn

Vegas Golden Knights – Jack Eichel

Winnipeg Jets – Josh Morrissey

Washington Capitals – Nicklas Backstrom

Trade Deadline Notes: Dadonov, DeBrusk, Motte

at CDT | by 13 Comments

There is still no official decision on the trade between the Anaheim Duck and Vegas Golden Knights, though some sources have indicated to Jesse Granger of The Athletic that they believe it will be voided. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet tweeted a bit of an explanation, noting that not only did the Golden Knights not receive Evgenii Dadonov’s no-trade list, but they and the NHL were also “led to believe” that the list had not been filed properly and thus expired.

That is not the case, however, as evidence has emerged to show that Dadonov properly filed his no-trade list, which includes the Ducks, on June 30, the day before the clause would have expired had it not been given to the Senators. Important to note in this situation, and something that is often misunderstood is that though Dadonov could still technically be traded after the “deadline” should this deal be voided, he no longer would be eligible to play at all in 2021-22, regular season or playoffs.

  • When Jake DeBrusk inked a two-year extension yesterday, some believed it would lead to a fresh start somewhere else later in the day, given that his agent immediately told members of the media that a trade request was still valid. In fact, agent Rick Valette told Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic that he was “hoping Jake would have a change of scenery” at the deadline. He also wanted to be clear that DeBrusk still loves the city of Boston and will be completely focused on the Bruins’ Stanley Cup run for the rest of this season.
  • When Tyler Motte was moved at the deadline for a 2023 fourth-round pick, some wondered why the Vancouver Canucks would bother, given how well he has fit into the team’s bottom-six. Motte is a pending free agent and according to Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV, he didn’t want to leave the organization at all but was asking for a contract with an average salary over $2MM. The 27-year-old has seven goals and 15 points in 49 games this season.

Bruins Sign Jake DeBrusk To Two-Year Extension

at CDT | by 9 Comments

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.

Latest On Jake DeBrusk

at CDT | by 8 Comments

After a challenging 2020-2021 season, Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk requested to be traded from the team. The team acknowledged his request, but since then there has been seemingly little progress towards a resolution of the issue. That lack of progress should not be confused with a retraction of the request, though. DeBrusk still desires a trade from the Bruins, and as Pierre LeBrun of TSN explains, DeBrusk’s camp is “willing to work on an extension to help facilitate a deal” so that the player can be traded to another team. For an acquiring team to retain an unextended DeBrusk’s rights beyond this season, they would have to issue him a qualifying offer worth $4.41MM against the cap. LeBrun notes that “a lot of teams are concerned” about that figure, which could explain why DeBrusk remains a Bruin several months after his request to be traded became public.

Looking at the situation from Boston’s perspective, it is clear that DeBrusk is in the middle of a bounce-back season, as was cemented by a hat trick against the Los Angeles Kings. He has 14 goals and 24 points in 48 games, which is a 24-goal, 41-point pace, production that is more in line with his past seasons. DeBrusk’s re-emergence as a legitimate scoring threat, especially recently, should in theory help him secure a trade, but the looming trade deadline complicates things. The Bruins are currently solidly in place in the Eastern Conference’s first wild card playoff spot, and taking away DeBrusk’s production as the team intends on competing for a Stanley Cup would not be ideal. That being said, one wonders if keeping a player who wants out on a team with sky-high aspirations is just as problematic. Moreover, there is the opportunity a DeBrusk trade would hypothetically provide the Bruins. Moving DeBrusk could help Boston target a replacement forward from the trade market, giving them more assets to trade and more cap space to work with. The team knows DeBrusk doesn’t want to be a Bruin, so perhaps a DeBrusk trade could go hand-in-hand with Boston acquiring a forward to replace him.

For an acquiring team, DeBrusk represents an interesting opportunity as well as a bit of a risk. On one hand, there are a lot of things to DeBrusk that make him an attractive trade target. He has flirted with scoring 30 goals before and is still only 25 years old. Given his recent inconsistency, he is likely to cost under $4MM on an extension, and is, according to LeBrun, willing to negotiate an extension with a team that acquires him. So any team can look at DeBrusk and see a potential 30-goal-scorer that they can lock into a bargain contract. But on the flip side of that, DeBrusk’s 27-goal-season was his sophomore campaign in 2018-19, and since then he has struggled to match that level of production. His bouts of inconsistency and inability to truly seize a top-six spot in Boston are red flags, and with a hefty $4.41MM price tag attached on a qualifying offer, what happens if he struggles to transition to a new team? DeBrusk is a difficult player to fully get a grip on, so he could be a bit of a leap of faith for any team that trades for him. But the upside is definitely there.

Compared to other options on the trade market, DeBrusk is a riskier proposition. As previously mentioned, his inability to cement himself as a reliable NHL scorer makes him more of a lottery ticket than proven veteran scorers such as Phil Kessel. But DeBrusk is younger, offers more long-term viability, and has the upside to be a multi-year fixture in a team’s top-six. A team acquiring DeBrusk would likely be in a different place in their competitive timeline than a team acquiring Kessel, because DeBrusk’s value is more theoretical, more long-term, while Kessel or other veteran wingers would in all likelihood provide a more immediate boost.

Interestingly, DeBrusk is not the only Bruins 2015 first-round pick to request a trade from the organization. Winger Zachary Senyshyn, the player the Bruins picked immediately after DeBrusk, also filed a trade request earlier this season. While DeBrusk may be viewed as a disappointment in the eyes of some observers in Boston, Senyshyn has been undoubtedly the more disappointing pick for the Bruins. Senyshyn has only appeared in 14 career NHL games and has a single goal to his name. With Senyshyn and DeBrusk requesting trades from the organization, it is clear that the team’s long-term plans for their offense have shifted away from those two former top picks. The situation with the two of them is definitely one to keep an eye on, especially as the trade deadline gets closer and closer.

Trade Rumors: Chiarot, Oilers, Coyotes, DeBrusk

at CDT | by 7 Comments

While the Marc-Andre Fleury-Washington Capitals connection was the highlight of the most recent “32 Thoughts” column from Sportnset’s Elliotte Friedman, the insider had plenty else to say about the burgeoning trade market. Though just a small note, the inclusion most likely to come to fruition is Friedman’s report that several teams are pursuing Montreal Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot. Chiarot’s name has been out there among trade candidate all season and it isn’t going away. As the top impending free agent on the NHL’s worst team, Chiarot is a near lock to be dealt. Friedman reports that the Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, and St. Louis Blues are among the teams confirmed to have interest in Chiarot, but Friedman also keys in on another possibility: the Toronto Maple Leafs. The rumblings out of Toronto suggest that the Leafs are targeting a defenseman at the trade deadline and they may very well need one to escape the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division. Friedman notes that the club kicked the tires on Chiarot when he was a free agent and could be a top contender to land him this time around.

  • Another report that is hardly outside the box is Friedman’s suggestion that the Edmonton Oilers have looked into just about every goalie that could potentially be traded this season. Among the list of names are some who have already been linked to Edmonton, such as Columbus’ Joonas Korpisalo and Dallas’ Braden Holtby and Anton Khudobin, but other interesting targets include Philadelphia’s Martin Jones and Washington’s Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek. However, the key piece of Friedman’s report is that the Oilers may end up empty-handed if they aren’t willing to improve their offer. Friedman hears from potential trade partners that Edmonton is not willing to move their first-round pick and increasingly hesitant to move their second-rounder as well. Without a third- or fourth-round selection this year, the Oilers are seemingly only peddling late-round picks, with top prospects likely off the board as well. That won’t get it done in a sellers’ market.
  • One goalie who likely won’t wind up in Edmonton is Arizona’s Karel Vejmelka. Though there have been few bright spots in the Coyotes’ dismal season, Vejmelka’s play has given fans in the desert some hope. The 25-year-old rookie, an unheralded import from the top level in Czechia, has performed well this season. By league standards, his .901 save percentage and 3.40 GAA may not seem like much to be excited about, but as a first-year NHLer playing behind one of the worst rosters in the league, the keeper has held his own in 25 appearances. Rather than quickly flip Vejmelka to another team, the ’Yotes seem insistent on extending the goaltender instead, including him as a core piece in their rebuild.
  • Still in Arizona, where rumors circle the struggling squad, Friedman reports that young forward Lawson Crouse is unlikely to be traded despite recent speculation. The hulking power forward is not without his flaws, but with 10 goals and 20 points in 40 games, Crouse is well on his way to a career year. Although the Coyotes have shown their willingness to move on from high-potential players for the right price by placing Jakob Chychrun on the block, Friedman states that they have begun telling suitors that they would prefer to keep Crouse.
  • Elsewhere, The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa writes that the market for Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk is in fact as cold as it seems. There was a flurry of speculation when DeBrusk first requested a trade, but it has quieted down significantly since Boston’s play improved in the new year. This isn’t because the Bruins aren’t listening though. Instead, Shinzawa reports that teams seem hesitant to make the commitment to DeBrusk, at least at the Bruins’ asking price. While his play has improved of late, it is still far off his performance earlier in his career and not up to the level that his $4.41MM qualify offer demands. The challenge for the Bruins is to find a team willing to pay the asking price that either is willing to qualify or otherwise negotiate an extension with DeBrusk or conversely a team that sees him as a rental, as recent rumors have suggested the New York Rangers might. Neither the Bruins nor DeBrusk want to extend their relationship, but it may be easier said than done to find the right deal.

East Notes: Brannstrom, DeBrusk, Zucker, Bryson

at CDT | by 10 Comments

While Ottawa finds themselves well out of the playoff picture again, Postmedia’s Ken Warren posits that there are still a few players with a lot to play for down the stretch.  One of those is defenseman Erik Brannstrom.  The centerpiece of the Mark Stone trade, the 22-year-old has struggled considerably in Ottawa and has spent most of this season in the minors.  Warren suggests that Jake Sanderson is likely to join the Senators following his college season which could push Brannstrom further down the depth chart to the point where the 15th pick in 2017 could soon be trying to showcase himself for other teams.  Brannstrom is in his final season of waiver exemption and will be a restricted free agent this summer and if he’s made available, he could be an intriguing trade chip for GM Pierre Dorion.

More from around the East:

  • With Boston off to a hot start to 2022 and nothing happening in terms of Jake DeBrusk’s trade request, head coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters including Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe that he’s not sure if the request still stands at this point. The 25-year-old has just five goals and five assists in 30 points this season and a change of scenery certainly couldn’t hurt at this point.  However, with his performance not exactly boosting his value, Dupont argues that DeBrusk may be better off realizing that his best situation might be his current one, especially with the Bruins on a run at the moment.
  • Penguins winger Jason Zucker is listed as a game-time decision for their game on Monday in Vegas, notes Mike DeFabo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The 30-year-old has missed nearly a month due to a lower-body injury that he was trying to play through before being shut down.  He was off to a tough start before the injury with just four goals and seven assists in 30 games but he’s an intriguing addition to a Pittsburgh attack that is getting pretty close to being fully healthy.
  • Sabres defenseman Jacob Bryson will miss at least the next two games due to his upper-body injury, relays Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News (Twitter link). The 24-year-old sophomore has logged close to 20 minutes a game on Buffalo’s back end this season while collecting seven assists and 34 blocks in 32 games.

Sharks, Bruins Announce More COVID Absences

at CDT | by 4 Comments

Jan 5: Tomas Nosek has joined the other Bruins in the protocol, along with one additional staff member.

Jan 4: The San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins have each announced more COVID-related absences. The Sharks have placed Logan Couture and Lane Pederson in the COVID protocol, recalling Adin Hill and Scott Reedy in the process. Alexei Melnichuk has been reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda.

Couture, the Sharks captain, was not one of the players who entered the protocol earlier this season, though he also was missing for one of the games they played shorthanded due to a non-COVID illness. He’ll now be sidelined for the next little while, likely missing at least this evening’s game as well as two others in the coming days.

With Hill out, Couture and Pederson will join only Mario Ferraro in the protocol at this time. Head coach Bob Boughner confirmed to reporters including Curtis Pashelka of Mercury News that Couture is positive but has not yet experienced any symptoms. With the league’s new policy, that means he could potentially exit the protocol in five days, should he be able to provide a negative test.

The Bruins meanwhile have placed Jake DeBrusk and three staff members in the protocol, where they will join Karson Kuhlman. DeBrusk has had quite the eventful season so far, with his trade request going public only for the Bruins to put him back in the lineup due to other absences. In the two games the team has played since the holiday break, DeBrusk has taken a regular shift in both, even playing more than 16 minutes on Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Now, as he finds himself in isolation, he’ll be forced to miss at least tonight’s game and likely at least two others in the next few days.

Snapshots: Guentzel, Trade Bait, DeBrusk

at CDT | by 11 Comments

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without Jake Guentzel for the next little while, as head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters that the sniper will be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Guentzel is having another outstanding season with 15 goals and 27 points in just 24 games.

The 27-year-old forward now sits at 136 goals and 284 points through his first 323 career games, even closer to point-per-game production if you include his playoff performances. On a team that has some of the most recognizable players in the league, Guentzel sometimes doesn’t get the credit he deserves as one of the league’s premier offensive players. Losing him, especially just as things are starting to roll for the Penguins, will be a difficult thing to deal with.

  • TSN revealed its first Trade Bait board for this season compiled this time by new insider Chris Johnston. Ben Chiarot of the Montreal Canadiens tops the board, as one of the few impact defensemen that will be available at the deadline this year. As Johnston notes, players like Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson were once expected to hit the market this year, but the Anaheim Ducks are playing well enough now that that may not be the case.
  • One of the other players on that list is Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk, who was the focus of one of Elliotte Friedman’s latest 32 Thoughts. The Bruins are “definitely willing” to trade DeBrusk according to Friedman and are “unafraid to take a chance” on a younger player in return. They won’t just sell off DeBrusk because of his public trade request.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top