Haggerty: Time Running Out For Bruins’ DeBrusk To Elevate | BHN+

The bottom line with Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk is that it’s increasingly becoming time that he needs to step it up.

DeBrusk needs to take the next step in his development and become a better, more consistent player, or his standing with the Bruins won’t last forever. The 24-year-old DeBrusk has a goal and five points along with a minus-4 rating in 17 games this season and has been held to two points in his last seven games after busting through with his first goal this year in a loss to the New Jersey Devils a couple of weeks ago.

He’s had flashes like 14 shot attempts and a goal called back in a big game last month against the Rangers after a return from injury, and a nifty change-up shootout winner against the Flyers back in January. DeBrusk played competitively in last weekend’s nasty Friday night win over the Capitals where he was active and even blocking shots in the final third period seconds of a 5-1 win for the Black and Gold.

But that just shows what DeBrusk should be able to give on a more consistent basis.

The Bruins winger is on pace for five goals and 23 points projected to a normal 82-game regular season and is flat out not producing enough for the consistent top-6 role he’s been in over his career with the Boston Bruins. Even his head coach freely admitted last week that DeBrusk has more to give than he’s putting out there right now.