DeBrusk wants to stay with Bruins: ‘It’s the only team that I know’

Any friction between Boston Bruins management and forward Jake DeBrusk appears to be in the past. Entering the final year of his contract before he can become an unrestricted free agent, DeBrusk says he’s hoping to sign an extension with the only team he’s ever played for.

“I’m hoping to stay (with the Bruins). It’s the only team that I know and the team that I grew up with,” DeBrusk said Tuesday, per NHL.com’s Derek Van Diest. “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.”

DeBrusk requested a trade from the Bruins during the 2021-22 campaign, but he rescinded the request the following offseason after inking a two-year deal.

“It’s not my first time going through this. It’s my third time my contract is up with them,” DeBrusk said. “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.”

But DeBrusk is line to receive a sizeable raise from his current $4-million cap hit. Evolving-Hockey projects he’d receive an eight-year deal carrying a $7.05-million cap hit if he signed an extension with the Bruins.

The winger, who turns 27 in October, tied his career high with 27 goals last season and posted a new personal best with 50 points in 64 games.

“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 will be counted on even more heavily this coming year after the Bruins lost a glut of forwards this past summer, including Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to retirement, Tyler Bertuzzi to free agency, and Taylor Hall via trade.

The Bruins drafted DeBrusk 14th overall in 2015 with one of the club’s three consecutive first-round picks.

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