Bruins Confirm “Ongoing Discussions” To Extend Pending UFA

With several big names gone from the roster of last year's Presidents' Trophy-winning team, the Boston Bruins can ill-afford to let another key pending UFA pick up and leave for nothing after this season. 

With that, GM Don Sweeney has confirmed that there are "ongoing discussions" to work out an extension for forward Jake DeBrusk. He's come a long way since requesting a trade two years ago. 

Ongoing discussions with Jake DeBrusk. All Sweeney will say.

— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) October 9, 2023

Unfortunately for Bruins fans, there's not much more information than that, as Sweeney stopped short of offering any more details. 

The Bruins, of course, lost both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to retirement this past summer, while key UFAs Dmitry Orlov and Tyler Bertuzzi, among others, moved on.

DeBrusk has established himself as a crucial part of the B's offense since rescinding that trade request, popping 27 goals along with a career-high 50 points and another personal best—a robust plus-26 rating.

It was just yesterday that head coach Jim Montgomery noted that DeBrusk has a “quite confident swagger.” With plenty of room for new leaders in the locker room, the 26-year-old is helping fill that void. 

Now it's a matter of locking him up going forward, and that process appears to be underway. 

Photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports