Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney met with reporters Thursday in Las Vegas, the site of this week's 2024 NHL Draft, to give an update on Jake DeBrusk's future with the team.
Sweeney's comments suggest that DeBrusk is likely to test NHL free agency when the market opens on Monday at noon ET. He admitted that contract talks between the team and DeBrusk's camp haven't been productive "in quite some time."
DeBrusk, who has spent his entire seven-year NHL career with the Bruins since being selected 14th overall in the 2015 draft, has scored 20-plus goals three times. He also tallied 19 goals twice, including in the 2023-24 season. Over the last three seasons, DeBrusk has averaged 23.6 goals and his 71 total goals rank third on the team behind David Pastrnak (148) and Brad Marchand (82).
While testing free agency doesn't guarantee DeBrusk will leave the Bruins, it allows the 27-year-old forward to explore his options.
Despite his offensive inconsistencies, DeBrusk has worked hard to improve his two-way game, becoming a reliable defensive player and penalty killer. His ability to score 20-plus goals and his solid playoff resume make him a valuable forward.
The Bruins struggled with scoring depth last season, particularly in the playoffs, where they scored two or fewer goals in nine of 13 games. Losing DeBrusk in free agency would exacerbate this issue.
Fortunately, the Bruins have around $22 million in salary cap space, according to CapFriendly, giving Sweeney the financial flexibility to make significant additions to the roster in the coming months.
