The Bruins have opened trade deadline day with a surprising move, announcing a two-year extension for Jake DeBrusk. The deal has an average annual value of $4 million.
It's surprising, of course, because DeBrusk has had a trade request in to the Bruins' front office since last summer. He went public with that request through his agent in November.
So, did he have a sudden change of heart? Well... maybe not. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa both report that the trade request has not been rescinded.
That means the extension could be the first step of a sign-and-trade. One of the obstacles to a possible trade up until this point has been the $4.41 million qualifying offer DeBrusk would have been due as a restricted free agent after this season.
Having DeBrusk locked up for two years at a little less money per year should be more appealing to teams and eliminate concerns they would have to either overpay or lose him after the season.
The Bruins gave DeBrusk's agent, Rick Valette, permission to talk to other teams about an extension should they trade for him, so you would have to think DeBrusk's camp knows this contract would be palatable for other teams.
After a slow first half of the season, DeBrusk has turned things around over the last couple months with 10 goals and six assists in his last 26 games. However, he did just have a five-game pointless streak, which he snapped with an assist against Winnipeg on Friday.
DeBrusk has been playing on the Bruins' top line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron (minus Bergeron for the last couple games due to injury), and general manager Don Sweeney made it clear on Sunday that he had no intentions to simply dump DeBrusk and would only trade him if the deal helps the Bruins.
“Just going through the calls as I either field them or make them and explore different ways -- kind of like I landed with Hampus [Lindholm], it’s not easy to find deals,” Sweeney said. “You’re seeing players that have moved around, and there’s some big players that are moving right now. So I’ll continue to explore.
“I don’t think Jake’s changed his opinion, but that doesn’t mean it happens, and I’ve said that from day one. If I can make it fit for the Boston Bruins and helping our team… Jake’s helping our team, so I certainly would only do it if it’s going to help our team.”
The trade deadline is 3 p.m. Monday. If the Bruins don't move DeBrusk, they could revisit trading him this offseason.
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