This is one of the most critical Vancouver Canucks offseasons, potentially in franchise history. The first year of a rebuild is very important, as getting off on the right foot is crucial for the new management group. Who are the leaders of the rebuild? How old will they be when the rebuild is finished? Both of those questions need to be asked, and today, we will look at one name that sticks out on the team and on trade boards. At this time, it seems as though Jake DeBrusk may be the odd man out.
How Does Jake DeBrusk Fit In the Canucks’ Offseason Plans?
Credit Image: © Alex Cave/ZUMA Press Wire
One of the most important aspects of a rebuild is having a young core and a group of veterans to mentor said young core. The Canucks have the first pieces of a core in Zeev Buium, Tom Willander, and whoever they draft at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Some other pieces are still improving, such as Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Liam Ohgren, and up-and-coming goaltender Alexei Medvedev. Now, to our main topic of discussion today. Jake DeBrusk, turning 30 in October, is at a crossroads in his career. He has not won a Stanley Cup, and on a rebuilding team, even getting into the playoffs may be a while off. Would he even want to stay?
The Vancouver Timeline Just Does Not Fit DeBrusk
DeBrusk certainly did not hide the fact that he was disappointed in this past season. While he kept things light with his fun hobbies and seemed like a good player in the locker room, the thought of wanting out certainly was on his mind during the abysmal season the team had. Jake DeBrusk mentioned in an interview with Iain MacIntyre that he had never gone through a losing skid like the team had in January in his life. Prior to his time in Vancouver, he had only known about success and playoffs every year with the Boston Bruins, who did not miss the playoffs while DeBrusk was with the team.
Will teams be lining up for DeBrusk’s services? Probably not in a huge way, but at least he should fetch some decent value. He has scored 20 or more goals in four of his last five seasons and was very effective on the power play. In fact, 19 of his 23 goals from last season were from the power play. Many of those goals came from being a netfront presence as well as putting home rebounds in greasy areas. Teams that are in need of some winger depth could use him, like the Edmonton Oilers or Ottawa Senators, for example. DeBrusk has a cap hit of $5.5 million until 2031, a palatable contract as the cap continues to go up.
The Draft Combine Is A Good Place to Start Talks
The NHL Scouting Combine is running from June 1 to June 6, and with general manager Ryan Johnson newly at the helm, he will get the chance to meet with fellow GMs and potentially let them know who is on the trade block. It should be a no-brainer that DeBrusk is on there, but this is a good chance to start talks about what a possible return could look like. Either a decent draft pick or a younger winger could be a starting point. Although DeBrusk does currently have a no-movement clause, if he wants to win a Stanley Cup sooner rather than later, waiving it should not even be a debate. The only question is, to which team?
As the offseason for the Canucks continues, so will our analysis here at Last Word On Hockey. Analysis on every position, forwards, defence, goaltending, as well as trading and drafting, will be on centre stage. Stay tuned for more.
Main Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
