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Cassidy Praises DeBrusk But Says Bruins Winger Still Wants Trade

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Boston Bruins

As far as Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy knows, winger Jake DeBrusk has not changed his mind and rescinded his trade request he made to the Bruins via his agent Rick Valette back on November 29.

“I don’t know if he’s changed his mind, that’s probably a question served for other people,” Cassidy said. “He hasn’t said that to me at all.”

DeBrusk has yet to meet the media or make any comment on the matter since the trade request became public, but as far as Cassidy is concerned, he’s been better on the ice and done all his talking there in the 12 games he’s played since the trade request news broke. The Boston Bruins bench boss did, however, as he has numerous times before, urged the 25-year-old winger to not let his scoring woes lead to frustration and to take a lesson from teammate David Pastrnak. After going nine games without a goal, Pastrnak has eight goals in his last seven games and notched a hat trick in the Bruins’ 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.

“I think his play has been good,” Cassidy said of DeBrusk who has two goals and two assists in his last 12 games. “I don’t think he’s been rewarded much going to the net recently, he’s had some looks, but that is where you gotta keep pushing because that was ‘Pasta’ three weeks ago. He had some looks, it wasn’t going in, and look at him now. So, you gotta stay with it, you gotta bear down. You just need to do the things you need to do: hit the net when you do get chances – ‘Pasta’ has done that a lot better – and go from there.”

Still, while DeBrusk may be gripping the stick a bit too much as he tries to snap what was a seven-game goalless streak heading into Saturday’s tilt with the Nashville Predators, Cassidy sees a player who’d been more committed to both sides of the game.

“I think away from the puck, Jake’s done what we’ve asked,” said the Boston Bruins bench boss. “He’s made some mistakes but like every other guy on the team where we’ve worked to correct, away from the game. But I think, to answer your question, he’s helped us win games here and whatever happens, down the road happens. Like I said the other day, everyone involved is doing his part. From the player to the staff, to his teammates, to try and make it work for everybody and help us win games and I think that’s the objective right now and it’s worked out that way.”

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