{"id":451201,"date":"2024-09-18T12:17:49","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T16:17:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=451201"},"modified":"2024-09-18T12:17:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T16:17:49","slug":"expectations-for-jake-debrusk-2024-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/09\/18\/expectations-for-jake-debrusk-2024-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Expectations for Jake DeBrusk in 2024-25"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vancouver Canucks<\/span><\/a> general manager Patrik Allvin didn’t make any big free agent signings since joining the organization in January of 2022. That is until he <\/span>signed <\/span><\/a>Jake DeBrusk<\/a> to a seven-year deal worth $5.5 million per season. The Canucks were coming off their best season in years <\/span>and<\/span> Allvin stated he wasn’t satisfied despite that standing.<\/span><\/a> So, he went fishing and caught himself one of the biggest free agents in the pond. It’s a gamble <\/span>but<\/span> it seems that Allvin and the Canucks management believe that DeBrusk is a player that can take them over the top. But, just what is it reasonable to set as expectations for Jake DeBrusk<\/a> this season?<\/span><\/p>\n

DeBrusk in Boston<\/span><\/h3>\n

DeBrusk was drafted 14th overall by the Boston Bruins in 2015. That draft is infamous in Boston, considering the likes of Mathew Barzal<\/a>, Kyle Connor<\/a>, Thomas Chabot<\/a> <\/span>and<\/span> Brock Boeser<\/a> went after Jakub Zboril<\/a>, DeBrusk, and Zachary Senyshyn<\/a>. <\/span>But out of all the three, DeBrusk has been the best for ‘The B’s.’<\/em>\u00a0However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing in Boston for him.<\/span><\/p>\n

DeBrusk struggled with inconsistency with the Bruins. Sometimes, he would go on <\/span>long<\/span> scoring droughts <\/span>and<\/span> then he went weeks scoring non-stop. He was a healthy scratch a few times in Boston, <\/span>including for being late to a team meeting last season.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

DeBrusk had his share of frustrations with the Bruins <\/span>and<\/span> so did their management and fans. <\/span>In 2022, he requested a trade but later rescinded it.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

While in Boston, DeBrusk <\/span>managed to score<\/span> at least 15 goals a season, except for the shortened 2020-21 season. The Edmonton native’s career-high in goals is 27, which he achieved in 2018-19 and 2022-23. <\/span>DeBrusk also scored some big goals in the playoffs, specifically against the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Expectations for Jake DeBrusk<\/a> in Vancouver<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are a lot of reasons why signing DeBrusk was the right move for the Canucks. He is a proven top-six forward. Despite the inconsistencies, he knows how to score, especially around the net. In head coach Rick Tocchet<\/a>‘s system, he wants players who can win puck battles, especially in the offensive zone and around the net. Fortunately for Tocchet, DeBrusk does all of those. <\/span>Plus,<\/span> he is also decent in the defensive zone, <\/span>so<\/span> that’s a bonus.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Canucks haven’t signed a high profile agent for years. (If you can call DeBrusk that designation.) The last time they did was signing Loui Eriksson<\/a> in 2016, who ironically was a former Bruin. Of course, Canucks fans don’t want to talk about that signing either.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anyway, now that he is a Canuck, playing closer to his home, just what are the expectations for Jake DeBrusk? They certainly are high. It would not look good at all if DeBrusk underperforms.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there are <\/span>a lot of<\/span> reasons why he can succeed in Vancouver. He is coming into a new environment and a fresh start under a system that suits him. <\/span>Plus, <\/span>there<\/span> is a quality in the<\/span> team around him with forwards such as J.T. Miller<\/a>, Boeser, and Elias Pettersson<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can Debrusk and Pettersson Be a Dynamic Duo?<\/h3>\n

Speaking of Pettersson, it <\/span>seems very<\/span> likely that he and DeBrusk will at least start the season on the same line. <\/span>Despite his 89-point regular season, Pettersson’s disappointing second half of 2023-24 and his playoff performance are what <\/span>is remembered<\/span>. The pressure on him is high <\/span>especially<\/span> as his eight-year contract worth $11.6 million per year contract is kicking in.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, bringing in DeBrusk may ease the pressure off Pettersson. As mentioned, DeBrusk can score and is a clear upgrade cmpared with <\/span>the likes of<\/span> Ilya Mikheyev<\/a> and Sam Lafferty<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Putting Pettersson and DeBrusk on the same line could be a great idea in theory. With DeBrusk’s ability to win battles and score and Pettersson’s playmaking, <\/span>the two of them<\/span> could be a dynamic duo.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a good season for DeBrusk?<\/span><\/h3>\n

DeBrusk’s career-high in points is 50 points, which he achieved in 2022-23. Frankly, a good season for him should be at or above that <\/span>number<\/span>. <\/span>60<\/span> points seems like a reasonable goal, <\/span>but<\/span> don’t be surprised if he <\/span>manages to get<\/span> 70 <\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0score<\/span> 30 goals.<\/span> There is a lot of potential for DeBrusk having a career season in Vancouver and the decision to sign him could be a good one.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin didn’t make any big free agent signings since joining the organization in January of 2022. That is until he signed Jake DeBrusk to a seven-year deal worth $5.5 million per season. The Canucks were coming off their best season in years and Allvin stated he wasn’t satisfied despite that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4956,"featured_media":434055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,4547,4548],"tags":[1452,932,2323,5373,7127,2012,5892,6014],"class_list":["post-451201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-canucks","category-hockey","category-nhl","tag-brock-boeser","tag-elias-pettersson","tag-jake-debrusk","tag-jt-miller","tag-patrik-allvin","tag-rick-tocchet","tag-vancouver-canucks-analysis","tag-vancouver-canucks-predictions"],"modified_by":"Levi Pike, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4956"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=451201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451201\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/434055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=451201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=451201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=451201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}