Boston Bruins' Jake DeBrusk Discusses Ongoing Trade Rumors

Even with a new head coach and a new outlook on life, Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk can't seem to shy the trade rumors. Before it was solely based on Bruce Cassidy why DeBrusk wanted out, but now he's made it very clear to management he wants to stay and he's hitting the recent trade rumors head on.

DeBrusk spoke with Derek Van Diest of NHL.com and had this to say about all the noise:

I'm hoping to stay (with the Bruins). It's the only team that I know and the team that I grew up with. Hopefully, it goes in that direction, and we'll see how it goes. That's why I have an agent, and I told him I wanted to stay out of this one, and in time, it'll be nice when it all gets done. It's not my first time going through this. It's my third time my contract is up with them. I kind of know what to expect, although it's a little bit different with now being a UFA. I'm not too focused on that. I've kind of tested the waters before, and I'm just going to focus on hockey. If I stay healthy, I think I can score 30 this season," he said. "I've knocked on the door twice with 27, and I have 25 in there as well. I think if I stay healthy, that's obviously the goal, to finally get to that 30 mark.

DeBrusk enters the 2023-24, turning 27 years old and coming off a 50-point season. The Bruins have undergone a ton of changes and especially at the top of their roster so it's going to be important for the team to get every drop of talent out of DeBrusk this season.

The Bruins winger will make $4 million this season and enters a contract year looking to make a big enough impression on management to be given a long-term contract extension at some point before next July.

Photo credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports