The former Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk was signed by the Vancouver Canucks to a five-year contract worth an average of $5.5 million annually this week, making him the team’s biggest free agent signing. DeBrusk always looked to want a bigger role in Boston, and by signing in Vancouver, he would get that role, so this addition felt like a good fit for all parties. Given that he has had multiple deep runs with the Bruins since becoming pro in 2018, the Canucks believe he is just the kind of player they need to advance further in the playoffs.
What Does the Canucks Receive from DeBrusk?
DeBrusk appears to be a top-six and possibly even top-line forward for any NHL team. When called upon, this powerful striker can score goals and assume defensive responsibilities. His toughness and capacity to intimidate opponents in the offensive zone and drive the net to create scoring opportunities, however, are his strongest assets. Having someone who can do that with a scoring touch is a huge benefit. He offers a toughness and grit that the team needed in Vancouver following the loss of Nikita Zadorov. The Canucks needed to become more resilient in order to avenge their season-ending loss to the Edmonton Oilers, and they achieved this by acquiring DeBrusk.
Regarding the Oilers series, DeBrusk is a monster in the playoffs. Considering that he has only scored a career-high 50 points, his regular season stats don’t really stand out, but in the playoffs, he becomes a different performer. He scored 11 points in 13 games during the previous playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers, tying his career high for playoff scoring from 2019. However, he did so in 11 fewer games than in his previous postseason total of 11 points in 24 games in 2018–19. The Canucks will appreciate what DeBrusk can do for them since he not only scores goals in crucial situations but also brings the rugged game that the playoffs require. The Canucks should be feared in the postseason after adding him to a forward group that already includes Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller, and Elias Pettersson.
DeBrusk ought to have no issue blending in.
During his seven seasons in Boston, DeBrusk shared the field alongside players like Brad Marchand, David Krejci, and Patrice Bergeron. Even as those players were nearing the end of their careers, he was still able to have great success with them. With so many young, skilled forwards in Vancouver’s forward core, he ought to be able to find a spot on this squad where he can contribute.
He will have two excellent centers who can set him up in the offensive zone, regardless of whether he plays with Miller or Pettersson. Presumably, he will be part of the Canucks powerplay and have the opportunity to play alongside underappreciated guys like as Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland. He might even get the opportunity to play alongside Danton Heinen, a former teammate of his who the Canucks also signed. DeBrusk has the potential to improve the forward core of the Canucks by fostering camaraderie with his teammates, regardless of whether he plays on the first or second line.
The Canucks head management made a tremendous signing in DeBrusk, and his experience in the locker room and within the organization will be invaluable for a club that came just one goal short of tying Game 7 of their series against the eventual Stanley Cup runner-up. He may be the crucial component that enables the Canucks to return to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2011. He will provide toughness and scoring to a squad that sorely needs it.
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