Jake DeBrusk was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on October 17th, 1996, to parents Louie and Cindy DeBrusk. Jake was born into a hockey family, and his father played 401 games in the National Hockey League for four teams. Louie is now a color analyst for Hockey Night in Canada. Jake began his hockey career playing in the Northern Alberta Hockey League for the SSAC U15 team. The following season DeBrusk played in the Alberta Elite Hockey League for the SSAC Southgate Lions. The young left-wing would burst onto the pro prospect scene on the U18 team, where he registered 52 points in 34 games in 2012-13.
The 6-foot winger would join the Western Hockey League in 2013-14. With the Swift Current Broncos, DeBrusk would play 168 games over two and a half seasons, his best season being in 2014-15 when he registered 81 points in 72 games. Jake would join the Red Deer Rebels during the 2015-16 season and finish the year with a terrific postseason, with eight goals and nine assists in 17 games.
Jake DeBrusk Drafted 14th Overall By Boston.
In the 2015 NHL Draft, Jake DeBrusk was selected 14th overall by the Boston Bruins, their second of three first-round picks that draft. The scout on DeBrusk heading into the draft by Curtis Joe of eliteprospects.com was “A two-way winger with good mobility and scoring ability. Willing to battle in the dirty areas and can always find the puck and make the smart play below the hash marks. Shows good creativity and deception with the puck. Good individual skills and makes good use of any time and space found. DeBrusk won’t beat you up physically, but he can beat you on the scoreboard. All-in-all, a competitive two-way winger with the natural goal scorer’s instincts.” DeBrusk played one season for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League, scoring 19 goals in 74 games.
DeBrusk’s NHL Debut to Today
Jake would have a memorable NHL debut on October 6th, 2017, at 20 years old, in the Bruins’ season-opening game at TD Garden. DeBrusk would score in the second period of a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators with his proud father in attendance. Jake would finish the game with a team-high four shots and an assist in 14:05 of ice time. It would be a successful first season in the NHL for DeBrusk, who would play 70 games with 43 points and an impressive six postseason goals. Year two would see DeBrusk score 27 goals which remains a career-high, and eleven points in a postseason that had the Bruins come one win from winning the Stanley Cup.
After a 35-point third season, Jake would struggle in the bubble during the pandemic in 2020-21 with just five goals. Jake admittedly had some struggles with mental health during the shortened season. His difficulties would continue into last season, resulting in him requesting a trade from the Bruins. But Boston decided to keep DeBrusk and sign him to a two-year extension. As the top-line right-wing, Jake’s scoring touch re-emerged to 25 goals in 2021-22.
Jake DeBrusk’s Contract Status
Jake signed a two-year extension with a $4 million cap hit two seasons ago and is an impending unrestricted free agent. With Jim Montgomery taking the helm for the Bruins, DeBrusk seems happy again playing hockey. At 27 years old, DeBrusk has 120 career NHL goals through November 6, 2023 and will be one of the top forward free agents in the offseason barring a midseason extension.
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