Breaking: Bruins set sight to land $21 million fans favorite

The Boston Bruins begin NHL free agency with more than $21 million in cap space and numerous players on the roster who general manager Don Sweeney must decide whether to re-sign or release.

Jake DeBrusk, an unrestricted free agency forward, leads the list.

Sweeney stated at the Bruins’ post-season press conference that DeBrusk is a “big part” of the team’s future and wishes to keep the 27-year-old.

Bruins coach Jim Montgomery believes DeBrusk is hitting his peak and has been a game changer for the team.

“I believe his NHL future is bright. “His career has been really good, and he’s coming into his prime,” Montgomery said on the “NHL Wraparound Podcast.” “You look at how good he was for us in the playoffs this year … after playing with some injuries during the year.”

Montgomery went on to say, “One thing you’ll notice, and I did, is that every time I spoke with him one-on-one, he was quite honest about where he thought his play was. We talked a lot about consistency while Jake was on top of his form. Jake was a game changer for us. He has the ability to turn the course of a game in one or two shifts due to his tenacity, speed, and talent.”

DeBrusk played 465 games for the Bruins, scoring 138 goals and assisting on 128. During Boston’s record-breaking 2022-23 season, he had 27 goals and 23 assists for a career-high 50 points in 64 games.

His output was down in the 2023-24 season, with 19 goals and 21 assists in 80 games, but DeBrusk admitted to breaking his hand throughout the season, which did not heal until just before the playoffs. When the playoffs started, DeBrusk led the team in points (11) and goals (5).

DeBrusk confessed that his top priority going forward is to win the Stanley Cup, but he believes he can do so with the Bruins.