Now that their season is over, the Boston Bruins’ offseason work is just beginning. General Manager Don Sweeney has cash to spend this summer – with $22 million at his disposal. He has key decisions to make, primarily with restricted free agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman.
However, other key players could return. Forward Jake DeBrusk is an unrestricted free agent. He and the Bruins have not struck a deal, but he is hopeful to return to the club.
DeBrusk also made it known that he prioritizes winning and wants to be on a team with Stanley Cup hopes, and the Bruins should be able to contend for a championship. The question remains, does bringing him back make sense, and will he want to come back? Expectations for DeBrusk The beautiful thing is that Sweeney has a surplus of cash to spend this summer. Entering the 2023-24 season, the team lost key goalscorers such as Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi.
With limited flexibility to spend, DeBrusk was expected to be the one to step up and be that extra layer of scoring behind star winger David Pastrnak. However, that was not the case. Life without Patrice Bergeron has not been easy, and we saw a different side of DeBrusk this season.
Some of it was poor bounces and poor puck luck, but he didn’t light the lamp nearly as often. He has established himself as a steady two-way middle-six winger, and expectations should remain on who he is rather than what he should be. With money to spend, adding a perennial goalscorer is a must.
DeBrusk.