Jake DeBrusk is doing what he can to build the Bruins’ team game whenever he hops over the boards.
Through the first month of the 2023-24 NHL season, only David Pastrnak has logged more average even-strength ice time (15:30) than DeBrusk (13:55) among Bruins forwards. He’s averaging 2:10 of shorthanded reps per contest, playing a key role on a penalty-kill unit ranked second in the NHL (90.9 percent).
The 27-year-old forward has evolved from a streaky O-zone asset into a viable two-way contributor on a stingy Bruins roster.
But even if DeBrusk has not fallen out of Jim Montgomery’s favor, he’s well aware that his contributions to this Bruins squad will ring hollow if his greatest skillset — putting pucks into twine — isn’t getting results.