Boston Bruins: Grading the 2019-20 season of Jake DeBrusk
By Scott Roche
Grading the 2019-20 season of Jake DeBrusk
On Monday night, the Boston Bruins announced that they re-signed second-line left wing Jake DeBrusk to a two-year deal. The longer the 24-year old was on the free-agent market unsigned, it was only a matter of time before he returned to Boston.
With DeBrusk back in the fold for at least two more years, let us look back at his 2019-20 season with the Black and Gold.
After scoring career-high goals in 2018-19 with 27 in 68 games, this past season was one where he could have easily at least tied that mark or passed it. However, with just 19 goals in 65 games before the NHL seasoned was paused on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic, it could have been labeled as a frustrating goal-scoring season for DeBrusk.
At different times during the season, coach Bruce Cassidy moved him up and down the lineup. In fairness, he struggled at times on the second line and that could be contributed to what was a rotating door on the right wing net to David Krejci.
Cassidy tried many different combinations with DeBrusk and Krejci and never found the answer. At the trade deadline in February, general manager Don Sweeney acquired Ondrej Kase from the Anaheim Ducks. The line was never able to connect much between the season pause following the trade and trouble that Kase had getting back on the ice prior to the Toronto playoff bubble.
When DeBrusk was playing well, he was producing. He found himself on the top-unit of the Bruins’ second-ranked power play during the season and responded with seven goals between the first and second units. In 12 playoff games, he had four goals for the Bruins.
When the NHL is able to open up training camps for a 2020-21 season and with DeBrusk re-signed and back with the Bruins, the hope is that Krejci, Kase, and DeBrusk can get some valuable time together in practice to get on the same page for next season.
His rookie season in 2017-18 was a career-high in points with 43. The following season was a career-high in goals and this past season saw a drop in production for the Edmonton, Alberta native. There is no question that the talent is there to be a consistent 20-30 goal scorer.
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DeBrusk needs to be more consistent on a nightly basis. There were too many nights this season where he was quiet and noticeably missing. If he can become more consistent on a nightly basis, then he has the chance to be producing left wing in the league for a long time.