Jake DeBrusk
Jake DeBrusk’s nickname should be “The Groundhog,” and for two reasons. One, he’s a hard nosed kid who’s willing to dig down deep in the tough areas. And two, because he’s only popped out of his hole once and while this season.
DeBrusk has racked up 2 goals and 2 assists, a -6 rating, and 14 shots on goal in his 7 NHL games this season. He’s had 2 games of brilliance, and 5 games of mediocrity. In the season opener against Nashville, he opened up his career with a goal and an assist in a victory. He did the same in the Bruins victory over the Arizona Coyotes.
In the 5 other games played that include 4 losses? Zero points, and a -8 rating. He’s not a forward known for his defensive prowess like Patrice Bergeron. However, sporting such a bad plus/minus rating in so few games is demonstrative of some holes in his game.
Granted, the team defense has been pretty poor overall this season, so it’s not all on DeBrusk. He, like Bjork, has also fallen victim to the lineup shuffling as well, given that he’s had to play on multiple lines with multiple center/winger combinations.
He, David Krejci, and David Pastrnak have proven to be a formidable line when together. Of course, that all goes by the wayside when Krejci is missing games, or Spooner gets hurt, or Bergeron needs replacing. Give DeBrusk some time to get comfortable with a playmaker like Krejci and a sniper like Pastrnak, the points will come. Hopefully some defense comes with it if he wants to be a well-rounded forward in the NHL.