Why 2023-24 NHL season is massively important for Bruins’ Jake DeBrusk

Why Jake DeBrusk of the Boston Bruins believes the 2023–24 NHL season is extremely important.

DeBrusk is starting his last season under his current contract.

Jake DeBrusk’s value to this Bruins team, according to head coach Jim Montgomery, is based on three characteristics.

BOSTON — The Bruins lost a lot of offensive firepower over the offseason and are currently integrating a few young, inexperienced players into their forward group.

These young players might need some time to get used to the speed and abrasiveness of the NHL game.
Therefore, it’s crucial that the Bruins’ seasoned players take the reins and contribute offensively in the early going.

Jake DeBrusk is one of the forwards who will be crucial to that.

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One could argue that DeBrusk is under more pressure going into the 2023–24 season than the majority of Bruins players. There are two main causes for this: He is entering the final year of his contract without a contract extension at this point, and as a player who is capable of scoring 30 goals, his offense will be essential to the Bruins’ chances of success.

The negotiations between DeBrusk and the Bruins to extend his contract have not progressed very much.
When questioned about the procedure on Monday during a Media Day press conference, B’s general manager Don Sweeney would only say that there were “ongoing discussions.
“.

The Bruins would do well to re-sign DeBrusk to a long-term contract.
He’s in the prime of his career and, assuming he stays healthy, can expect to average between 27 and 35 goals per game.
He is adaptable enough to play both left and right wing, and his 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his last 14 playoff games are proof that he can perform under pressure.

The pay must, of course, benefit both the player and the team.
According to CapFriendly, if the cap ceiling is around $87 million, the Bruins could have as much as $25 million in salary cap space next summer.

Inconsistency is one of the arguments against signing DeBrusk, even though he performed significantly better in that area last season.
In 2022–23, he only went without scoring in more than four straight games three times en route to a career-high 50 points (27 goals, 23 assists), despite playing in just 64 games due to a leg injury sustained during the 2023 Winter Classic.

Sweeney stated, “I believe Jake has matured both on and off the ice, and has experienced some ups and downs related to that.
“Jake’s recovery from two different injuries last year was crucial for both our hockey team and for him, as you sometimes saw him falter when he returned in those circumstances. And he actually didn’t, so I believe the drive is present.

It’s a real feather in Jake’s and the coach’s cap, in my opinion, to see that he has confidence in his abilities as a two-way player and that he can play both offense and defense.
His hockey acumen is superb. He possesses the abilities to make an impact as a player.
We can all see that Jake has always emphasized consistency. You just expect to see it every single night, and he’s getting there.
“.

The fact that DeBrusk is currently a much better two-way player than in his first couple of seasons is one of the strongest arguments for renewing his contract.
Last year, DeBrusk was given penalty kill shifts by Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery, who also encouraged him to defend more forcefully and effectively.
In the upcoming season, Montgomery wants to see DeBrusk improve his ability to convert solid defense into opportunities to score at the other end of the ice.

Montgomery cited three factors that made DeBrusk so important to the team.
“The first is his swagger.
Although I only heard it a few times, I believe the players frequently hear him project this air of quiet confidence.
At the right times, he adds humor to the situation, reassuring everyone that everything will work out. He really benefits our group because of his low-key confidence.

His best performances, in my opinion, occur when he is particularly tenacious in forechecking pucks, catching opponents off guard, or playing quick defense, which generates offense.
He’s always dangerous offensively, in my opinion, but that makes him even more so.
He also receives more opportunities when he acts in that manner.

“And the third thing was that communication with him is crucial, that he needs to understand his value to the team and how crucial he is, as well as how the details I mentioned help the Bruins succeed.
“.

With Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Taylor Hall, and Tyler Bertuzzi no longer playing for the team, the opposition will focus even more on trying to stop David Pastrnak.
To step up and produce more offensively, the Bruins need another winger. DeBrusk and Pavel Zacha are two players who need to step up their game.

The Bruins would be wise to re-sign DeBrusk for an extended period of time if he can accomplish that while staying healthy.