Jake DeBrusk rescinds trade request with Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk rescinded his trade request with the team last week, according to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug.

DeBrusk’s agent, Rick Valette, spoke with Bruins GM Don Sweeney last week, where Valette told Sweeney that DeBrusk rescinded his trade request with the team. DeBrusk had previously wanted out from the organization, with many believing that it was due to a falling out with previous Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. However, with the Bruins firing Cassidy and hiring Jim Montgomery last week, the issue seems to be resolved.

DeBrusk begins a two-year contract with a $4 million cap hit next season, a contract he signed during the trade deadline to help boost his trade value both at the deadline and this offseason if need be. With his trade request rescinded, it now means that he’s locked up for two more seasons with the Bruins.

DeBrusk had a strong bounce-back season with the Bruins in 2021-22 season in spite of the trade request. He had 25 goals and 17 assists for 42 points in 77 games, all his highest since 2018-19. A huge reason for that was a change in his role with the team, shifting from the left wing, where he was behind Brad Marchand and Taylor Hall, to the right wing, and putting him beside Patrice Bergeron and Marchand.

The Bruins have already made significant progress on their offseason before the NHL draft later this week, where they won’t pick until the 54th pick in the second round due to dealing their first round pick for Hampus Lindholm earlier this season. They’ve already brought back Bergeron, although the contract details aren’t official yet, and as mentioned before, they’ve hired a new head coach in Montgomery.

They only have just under $1.5 million in cap space, but they don’t have any key free agents to re-sign, although they will be without several players to start the season due to injury, including Marchand and Charlie McAvoy, and also have to find out what they’re going to do with David Pastrnak, whose contract expires at the end of the 2022-23 season.