NEWSLETTER
This seems, like, too perfect not to happen. It makes too much sense. Jake DeBrusk and Dylan Strome seem destined to be traded for each other.
Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk has reportedly asked for a trade out of Boston after not being able to find a permanent home in the Bruins lineup and “needing a change of scenery” after being a repeated healthy-scratch in his fifth season in Boston.
Hearing that BOS and Jake DeBrusk are working on the possibility of a fresh start for the player. Told nothing is imminent at this time, but something to keep an eye on.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 29, 2021
DeBrusk has been no stranger to the press box over the past two seasons in Boston under head coach Bruce Cassidy. After playing above a half-point per game pace in his first three seasons with the Bruins, the 25-year-old DeBrusk has been in and out of the lineup recently and has tallied just 20 points over his last 58 games.
Spoke with Rick Valette today, agent for Jake DeBrusk, he confirmed he asked for a trade over the weekend. It's felt a change of scenery moving forward would be beneficial. Debrusk will remain with the team while the Bruins try and facilitate the request.
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) November 29, 2021
In Chicago, the story sounds very similar to that of Dylan Strome. After failing to crack the NHL lineup with the Arizona Coyotes consistently in his first three professional seasons, Strome landed with the Blackhawks during the 2018-19 season and had a career-best year, recording 51 points in 58 games with Chicago (57 points in 78 games total that season). It looked like Strome was poised to be the No. 2 center in Chicago behind Jonathan Toews for years to come. But since his breakout season, Strome has failed to find that same level of production and has bounced around the lineup under both head coaches Jeremy Colliton and Derek King.
Derek King on Dylan Strome being a healthy scratch yesterday: "I thought Dylan was making some strides. We need to find some chemistry with a couple players and mix in and out. … We just felt his game wasn't where it was prior to (Calgary). We'll get him back in here soon."
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) November 27, 2021
Strome has been a healthy-scratch a number of times already this season, recording just three points in 12 games in 2021-22. Since his breakout 51 points in 58 games stretch with Chicago, the former third-overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft has skated in 110 NHL games and tallied 58 points. Not bad on paper, but not what was expected from him after the 2018-19 season.
Jake DeBrusk, asking for a trade is a middle-six shot-first forward who's seen his finishing, production, and ice time plummet in the past two seasons. A fresh start would probably be a good idea for all involved. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/cNjzXfFavo
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) November 29, 2021
Chicago needs help offensively, DeBrusk could provide that given the right opportunity.
Both players are on expiring deals, with Strome having a $3M AAV cap hit and DeBrusk a $3.675M AAV cap hit this season. The money works out in small favor for the Bruins, but the Blackhawks also just lost Adam Gaudette’s nearly $1M AAV cap hit with him being claimed off waivers, so the cap space cleared covers the difference in DeBrusk’s cap hit. Both could use the fresh start and both come with low-risk factors to the acquiring team.
It could be the first major move made by Blackhawks interim General Manager Kyle Davidson since making the move to fire Jeremy Colliton. If he wants to prove that he is the right person for the job long-term, making a move like this could make sense.
