Jake DeBrusk is a player who has been on the radar of the Edmonton Oilers for a very long time. Each trade deadline and free agent season, his name pops up and is linked to the team.
So far, it has not happened. But as the Boston Bruins winger hits free agency on July 1, the player and team have once again been linked as having mutual interest.
There is a strong link for DeBrusk to the Oilers. His dad, Louie, spent six seasons with the Oilers organization from 1991–92 until 1996–97. Jake was born in Edmonton in October 1996 while his dad played there. Additionally, Louie is currently the colour commentator for the Oilers on Sportsnet.
Who is Jake DeBrusk?
DeBrusk is a 2015 first-round pick, drafted 14th overall by the Bruins. He has since spent his entire career with the organization.
Over the course of a season, DeBrusk tends to be fairly consistent. He regularly can be relied on to record about 0.5 points per game, usually hovering around 40 points in a season. His career-high of 50 points in 64 games is his highest-scoring pace.
However, within seasons is where consistency is lacking. DeBrusk has frequently been the subject of criticism for his performance and lack of production for long periods of time within seasons.
In fact, it has only been the last two years that he has started to find ways to contribute more regularly to quiet some of those voices.
In terms of play style, DeBrusk is a fast, engaged player who never shies away from contact when he needs to make a play. He has solid offensive instincts, especially down low.
He is a shooter first and is just as likely to score more goals than assists in a season.
But, as someone who has only once surpassed the scoring rate of 0.5–0.6 points per game, he seems to have topped out as a second line forward.
DeBrusk’s fit with the Edmonton Oilers
In their search for offence from the middle six forwards, DeBrusk is a popular option and is an improvement on some of the players tried on the current roster.
His ideal fit would be as a scoring winger for Leon Draisaitl. And a player who has regularly hit the 20–25 goal mark is a promising option to play in that role.
However, even on some pretty good Bruins rosters and (at times) chances to play with superstar players in Boston, that is where DeBrusk has topped out. It is hard to predict if he would suddenly break out in his late 20s.
With the rumoured AAV he is seeking being in the $6M range, that contract would not fit very well on the Oilers’ roster for the role that he would fill. Edmonton already pays over $5M per season to players in that range like Evander Kane and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. It is hard to justify an amount like that for DeBrusk unless there’s more roster movement.
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