Jake DeBrusk is one of the most pressing question marks for the Boston Bruins’ management office this summer.
Set to become an unrestricted free agency on July 1 — less than a week from now — the Canadian forward has a good possibility of walking away if he isn’t handed a fair contract extension.
There have been rumors that the Bruins will let DeBrusk test free agency rather than attempting to re-sign the 27-year old. And he’s already generating a lot of talk this summer, including from a team he’s been particularly effective against in the playoffs. According to Toronto Star journalist Nick Kypreos, the Maple Leafs could be aiming to sign the top-six winger.
“The Leafs continue to look at all options when it comes to their top six forwards next season,” the former player said last week. “There’s word they may have interest in pending Bruins free-agent Jake DeBrusk, who’s been a Leafs playoff killer over the years.”
Now that there appears to be mutual interest between DeBrusk and the Leafs, the rumor that he may be considering playing for the Atlantic Division opponents grows stronger.
“I heard over the weekend that there’s actually mutual interest between the Leafs and Jake DeBrusk,” The Leafs Nation’s Nick Alberga wrote on Tuesday.
DeBrusk was a consistent contributor for the Bruins throughout the 2023-24 regular season, tallying 19 goals and 40 points in 80 games. It was a minor drop from his career high in 2022-23, when he scored 27 goals and 50 points. But he turned it on in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring 11 points in 13 games and helping the Bruins defeat the Leafs in Round 1.
Boston does have more than $23 million in cap room to deal with, so there is certainly a way to re-sign DeBrusk. However, after requesting a trade a few years ago, it appears that he will finally move on.
But can he truly switch from the team he’s spent his whole career with to one of their main Original Six competitors?
Leafs-Bruins rivalry remains one of best in league
DeBrusk was on the Bruins’ roster for three of those games. He has scored in a Game 7 against the Leafs and has helped the Americans consistently win against their northern rivals.
Now there is a chance he will join them. If he does, he’ll most likely play with Auston Matthews or John Tavares in 2024-25, which is a promising development for the two-time 27-goal scorer.
DeBrusk is projected to earn up to $5.82 million AAV over a five-year contract (AFP Analytics), and both the Leafs and the Bruins have cap space to sign him. But one thing is certain: he will command far more than the $4 million he earned in each of the last two seasons on the open market.
It will be fascinating to see if DeBrusk will stay in Massachusetts, move west to Ontario, or sign with a different team for the long term.
