Vancouver Canucks sign Jake DeBrusk to seven-year contract

The Vancouver Canucks were rumored to be in on many of the top free agents available on the open market. While they did not land Jake Guentzel, who went to the Tampa Bay Lightning, they did get their own Jake up front. 

On the first day of free agency Monday, the Canucks announced they have signed forward Jake DeBrusk to a seven-year contract with a $7.5 million average annual value. 

DeBrusk is a solid forward with proven success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 27-year-old has racked up 266 points (138 goals, 128 assists) in 465 NHL games. DeBrusk has spent all seven seasons of his NHL career with the Boston Bruins. After being drafted by Boston in the first round (No. 14) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, DeBrusk made his NHL debut in 2017-18. He finished his rookie season with 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists) in 70 regular-season games. He has only surpassed those numbers once, tallying a career-high 50 points (27 goals, 23 assists) in 2022-23. 

But it is in the playoffs that DeBrusk has really shined.

In 86 Stanley Cup Playoff games, the Edmonton native has recorded 47 points (27 goals, 20 assists). In his first taste of playoff hockey in 2018, DeBrusk recorded eight points (six goals, two assists) in 12 games. He tallied 11 points (four goals, seven assists) to help Boston reach Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2019, eventually losing to the St. Louis Blues. 

In 2023-24, DeBrusk had a bit of an offensive slump. In 80 regular-season games, he recorded only 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) while playing 16:49 per game. But once again he was great when it really mattered, adding 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 13 playoff games. Boston lost to the Florida Panthers in the second round.