Player Discussion Jake DeBrusk

[Nuckles]

I feel like a lot of people didn't get the memo from Bruins fans that DeBrusk is an extremely streaky player. Also he has a history of starting off the season very slowly in terms of scoring goals.

It probably doesn't help that he's adjusting to a new team and got moved around a few lines already.

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Has been great in all 3 zones, winning puck battles, skating hard, playing with intensity and passion, just needs to burry a couple, it’ll come.

 

[4th line culture]

Jake DeBust

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Jake DeBust

Virtanen thread is on page 300

 

[Bleach Clean]

He's pretty much been as advertised coming over from Boston. I don't think the contract is terrible, but if you think he'll outperform it you need to see more out of Pettersson, or maybe move him up with Miller.

He's just not a guy who is going to drive a line without higher-level play from the centre.

A reasonable take, but I'll go a step further: If this is his floor, this contract will be one of the best on the team. No question in my mind about it.

I didn't get around to posting when Dom's model already had him as one of the best value contracts (if not the best iirc), confirming some of my early bias here. But the trepidation over it was excessive hyperbole... And I say this with him not even scoring a goal yet.

Once he gets more selfish and starts to mimic his 2.2~ shots per game rate, the conversation will shift.

 

[VanJack]

Debrusk was signed specifically to be a scoring winger for Elias Pettersson. So far Pettersson has one goal and Debrusk 0. One measly goal for an expenditure of $15m in annual salary is just plain ugly.

Hard to say whether Petey is dragging Debrusk down right now, or visa-versa.

 

[Quinning]

They have negative chemistry with each other. They're actually making each other worse out there. Couldn't have more dissimilar styles of play.

 

[Tinhorn1]

They have negative chemistry with each other. They're actually making each other worse out there. Couldn't have more dissimilar styles of play.

Agree with that, although when they started together they also set each other up for some grade A chances that they just missed.

 

[Quinning]

Agree with that, although when they started together they also set each other up for some grade A chances that they just missed.

DeBrusk should be with Miller and Boeser. I could see that line actually doing well with Miller as the play driver.

I would also look at putting Pettersson with Joshua and Garland. We know those two have chemistry. Joshua can keep teams from taking liberties with Pettersson (honestly, Garland can as well based on his fight the other night).

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

DeBrusk > Lindholm

Common Allvin W.

 

[Knight53]

Guy looks like asscheeks. Hopefully traded outta here

 

[VanJack]

Beginning to see why the Bruins didn't make much of an effort to bring back Debrusk. With so many holes in the lineup, you'd expect someone with his experience and pay-grade to be one of the better Canucks on the ice tonight.

But other than a brief flurry in the third period, you'd have to check the program to confirm he even played. But Zadorov and Lindholm aren't doing much for the Bruins either.

So the UFA swap of Lindholm and Zadorov for Debrusk, Heinen and Forbort looks to be a dud for both teams.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

This is why I am fully against signing a UFA middle 6 winger to term.

 

[LordBacon]

Jake DeBust.

Jokes aside, theres no reason he cant pick it up later on.
The performance so far has been lackluster though, thats for sure.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Jake DeBust.

Jokes aside, theres no reason he cant pick it up later on.
The performance so far has been lackluster though, thats for sure.

Not thrilled with Jakes start to his tenure here;

But. He has been playing with two centre men who have had a horrid start to the season so far.

 

[MS]

This is kind of what he is. Basically every year of his career except 22-23 he's hung around the 40-45 point mark. He's a guy who will put up 45 points, be defensively responsible, has a hot streak here and there, and has a rep for being good in the playoffs.

There was a hope he could find another level with the better Cs here but so far that hasn't happened.

The value for the AAV is ... meh. My big concern has always been the term.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

This is kind of what he is. Basically every year of his career except 22-23 he's hung around the 40-45 point mark. He's a guy who will put up 45 points, be defensively responsible, has a hot streak here and there, and has a rep for being good in the playoffs.

There was a hope he could find another level with the better Cs here but so far that hasn't happened.

The value for the AAV is ... meh. My big concern has always been the term.

"The Zach Hyman gamble." Identical contract as well.

Worth noting Zach Hyman is only on pace for ~40 points this season.

 

[valkynax]

"The Zach Hyman gamble." Identical contract as well.

Worth noting Zach Hyman is only on pace for ~40 points this season.

I think last season's success was a bit of an outlier, or more like a bonus depending on how you look at it. There are far worse contracts for Oilers to worry about than his.

To Debrusk, I don't mind him so far. It's nothing spectacular but, similar to Hyman, we have problems that are much higher on the priorities list. As long as we tamper our expectations a bit, he should be just fine.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Pacing for 45/46 points, pretty much his career average.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

i said this in one of the GDTs but while his production seems in line with what he’s expected to, his actual contributions are disappointing so far. idk, maybe this is the player he always was and i just assumed from some playoff highlights and an unearned reputation from being a bruin and the son of rob riggle what he was capable of, but i feel like how often he peels off on the forecheck and how little he goes to the net is a huge letdown.

that said, maybe usage is also an issue. wtf was he doing as the third puck distributing option on the half boards on the PP? he should be parked in front of the net.

 

[wonton15]

The PP1 usage confuses me. Why is he running the half wall with zero puck skills? I was screaming at my tv last night lol. We really need a legit PP coach and not a mixture of Yogi/Tocchet

 

[Quinning]

I really am not a big fan of this player, at least not as he fits in with this roster/system. I think he's way too streaky and cashed in on having spent a lot of time in a stacked offensive system with an excellent cast of line drivers.

Seems like his hockey IQ is limited and he hasn't been using his speed very well in a North/South fashion. We need him to drive the net hard and go for rebounds, but it just hasn't really been there. Most of his goals in a Boston weren't lasers from 20 feet out, they were crease-crashers and nifty tucks in front of the net.

Might be yet another case of pumping the brakes after the bag is secured. We've seen this happen far too often around the league. Guys are only hungry until they know they don't have to be anymore. He's on pace for 13 goals, and Kiefer Sherwood has provided much more value for a quarter of the cap hit.

 

[credulous]

debrusk is okay. even his contract is okay (for now, could get ugly in the future if he declines)

the problem with him is that he was being counted on here to be a top line winger that gave pettersson a reliable partner or could elevate miller and boeser and he's not really that. he's a complimentary player who won't hurt you that badly when they're not producing and will chip in some offense albeit unreliably

 

[Quinning]

I think last season's success was a bit of an outlier, or more like a bonus depending on how you look at it. There are far worse contracts for Oilers to worry about than his.

To Debrusk, I don't mind him so far. It's nothing spectacular but, similar to Hyman, we have problems that are much higher on the priorities list. As long as we tamper our expectations a bit, he should be just fine.

Last year was not only a bit of an outlier, it was a bizarre statistical anomaly.

debrusk is okay. even his contract is okay (for now, could get ugly in the future if he declines)

the problem with him is that he was being counted on here to be a top line winger that gave pettersson a reliable partner or could elevate miller and boeser and he's not really that. he's a complimentary player who won't hurt you that badly when they're not producing and will chip in some offense albeit unreliably

Realistically, he should be making $3.5-4 million per for what he actually brings to the table.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

I really am not a big fan of this player, at least not as he fits in with this roster/system. I think he's way too streaky and cashed in on having spent a lot of time in a stacked offensive system with an excellent cast of line drivers.

Seems like his hockey IQ is limited and he hasn't been using his speed very well in a North/South fashion. We need him to drive the net hard and go for rebounds, but it just hasn't really been there. Most of his goals in a Boston weren't lasers from 20 feet out, they were crease-crashers and nifty tucks in front of the net.

Might be yet another case of pumping the brakes after the bag is secured. We've seen this happen far too often around the league. Guys are only hungry until they know they don't have to be anymore. He's on pace for 13 goals, and Kiefer Sherwood has provided much more value for a quarter of the cap hit.

i think what debrusk needs to do is both put in a lot more work in the corners and crash the net consistently. as it stands, you’re lucky if he does one, but ideally he needs to do both.

the question is, is this a system issue and they haven’t figured out a way for him to do both efficiently, or does the player just not have the motor to cause turnovers then find his way to the front of the net and establish position?