Exactly one year ago Sunday, Jake DeBrusk got demoted to the Bruins' fourth line. He had zero points in his last six games and two goals in his last 21 at the time. He had an open trade request and it seemed like a matter of when, not if, the Bruins were going to ship him out.
What a difference a year makes. On Saturday, DeBrusk returned to the Bruins' lineup after missing 17 games with leg and hand injuries and immediately offered a reminder of how valuable he has become to this team, scoring the game's opening goal and assisting on another in a blowout 6-2 win over the Islanders.
At the time of DeBrusk's injuries on Jan. 2, he was second on the team in goals and tied for third in points. The Bruins didn't appear to miss him right away as they beat up on some lesser competition, but as they faced some tougher opponents in recent weeks, DeBrusk's absence became more noticeable.
Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron both went into mini-droughts as they struggled to produce with other right wings. When Jim Montgomery briefly reunited them with David Pastrnak, the second line took a hit. The top power-play unit also started to slump, with a revolving door in DeBrusk's usual net-front spot one of several reasons for it.
In fact, it was in that spot that DeBrusk made his most immediate impact Saturday. With the Bruins on the power play just two minutes into the game, Marchand fed DeBrusk down low and DeBrusk patiently waited for Semyon Varlamov to give him an opening before sliding the puck five-hole, displaying poise that Montgomery called "high-end" after the game.
DeBrusk nearly scored again on a similar play on Boston's next power play. It highlighted the difference between him and some other options the Bruins have tried there. DeBrusk doesn't just set screens and tip shots when he's there (although he can do that too); the Bruins can also run plays through him that opponents must account for in addition to the Pastrnak one-timer and Bergeron bumper shot. He's great at retrieving rebounds and loose pucks to maintain possession as well.
DeBrusk's assist came on a 4-on-4 goal from Bergeron, although there was quite a bit of luck involved. DeBrusk fired high on a chance from the slot, but the puck took a big bounce off the glass behind the net, flipped back over the net, and right to a perfect spot for Bergeron to bunt it home. Still, DeBrusk did help set the chance up with a zone entry, a pass down low to Bergeron, and a sprint to the net in search of a loose puck.
The Marchand-Bergeron-DeBrusk line wasn't particularly dominant at 5-on-5 Saturday -- the Bruins' four 5-on-5 goals all came from their third and fourth lines, in fact -- but that should come in subsequent games as their chemistry returns. Before DeBrusk's injuries, the Bruins had 62.5% of goals, 59.4% of shot attempts and 65.5% of expected goals during that trio's 5-on-5 shifts.
Marchand and Bergeron had both snapped out of their slumps on Thursday, as had the power play. So, it's not like DeBrusk singlehandedly turned anything around. But there's no question that the whole lineup falls into place better when he's in it, with Montgomery then able to keep the Czech Line together and keep Taylor Hall on the third line.
Contrary to certain narratives, DeBrusk's turnaround in Boston didn't begin when Bruce Cassidy got fired -- although that is when his trade request officially got rescinded. It began right around this time last year.
DeBrusk handled that aforementioned demotion to the fourth line well and scored in his next two games. That got him promoted to the top line with Bergeron and Marchand, and he's been playing the best hockey of his career ever since.
DeBrusk finished last season with 18 goals and 27 points over his final 34 games. He started this season with 16 goals and 30 points in 36 games. On Saturday, DeBrusk picked up right where he left off at Fenway Park. Over the last calendar year, including playoffs, he now has 37 goals and 26 assists for 63 points in 78 games.
As he has in the past, DeBrusk gave credit to his teammates -- specifically his two linemates -- for helping him get through last season and get his game and career back on track.
"It's crazy how things have changed now," DeBrusk said Saturday night. "But you know what, I've worked for it and I've had a lot of help in this room. Guys like Bergy and Marchy and the leadership here have been -- they took me under their wing and had my back. It's one of those things where I'll do anything for them as well. I've just been constantly trying to prove that."
DeBrusk has proven it, and his captain sees his desire to continue to do so.
"He worked his way to deserving that spot and playing good with us," Bergeron said. "Same thing this year. He kept taking some steps forward and growing as a player, but especially as a person, as an adult and as a professional athlete. So I thought it was great to see. There's still some growth, and I think he's willing and wants to keep getting better, which is great to see. So, kudos to him for putting in all the work."
At this time last year, DeBrusk's value was at a low point, both for the Bruins and on the trade market. Now, thanks to that hard work, he's bringing tremendous value to the best team in the NHL.
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