Sweeney Confirms Reports of DeBrusk Trade Request

BOSTON - Bruins general manager Don Sweeney on Tuesday morning confirmed media reports that winger Jake DeBrusk has asked for a trade. Sweeney said that DeBrusk "has certainly made it known that he would prefer a new opportunity" after news of the request made waves on social media on Monday evening.
"He's shown a lot of maturity in trying to handle this as appropriately as possible," said Sweeney. "I'm not overly surprised that this eventually came out. I've been in the know on this for quite some time and we've been trying to look for a hockey trade situation that would help the Boston Bruins and as I do my job and accolade with what Jake thinks is best. There's a balance there. That's the profession."

Sweeney acknowledged that there has been interest from other teams in acquiring DeBrusk, who has three goals and three assists in 17 games this season.
"Jake's a really good player," said Sweeney. "He's a valuable player for us…we know he's gonna go in and impact if we do decide to make a hockey trade. That's what I have to continue to explore. We'll do so like we do every day, to tell you the honest truth. Doesn't really change my role other than trying to make the best move for us."
Despite the unusual situation, DeBrusk will remain with the club and be in the lineup on Tuesday night after sitting out as a healthy scratch on Sunday night. With Brad Marchand suspended for three games, Anton Blidh out with an upper-body injury, and Providence in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak, the Bruins were limited in their options for filling out a lineup against the Red Wings.
"We expect Jake to play well," said Sweeney. "This comes down to the Boston Bruins having to make a hockey decision. And for Jake, it comes down to him playing his best hockey. Whether that's for us - and hopefully that's for us tonight - but also if it is leading to an opportunity elsewhere, he has to play his best hockey as a player."

Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron said that DeBrusk's situation will not become a distraction within the dressing room and that his teammates will continue to support him as long as he remains a member of the club.
"It is just one of the things in this sport. People ask for trades. For us things don't change," said Bergeron. "We expect Jake to be accountable, respect the rest of the guys, work hard just like the rest of the guys. But the culture stay the same, the way we approach things stay the same.
"That's the approach that we have. As a team, as a group, on the ice we play together, play for one another, and play for the Boston Bruins. That's what we're expecting out of Jake for the time being…we're there for him, and we expect him to be there for us. That's the bottom line."
DeBrusk's career with the Bruins started off with a career-high 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists) during his rookie campaign in 2017-18, which the Edmonton native followed up with a career a career-high 27 goals in 2018-19 while playing mostly on Boston's second line with David Krejci as his centerman.
But his production dipped each of the last two seasons and the 25-year-old found himself as a healthy scratch at numerous points in 2020-21 and again on Sunday night against Vancouver.
"We had some success and Jake's had a lot of success," said Sweeney. "At times, players get to a situation where they feel that they're playing their best hockey. And I think Jake would openly admit he hasn't played his best hockey. Sometimes players just look and say maybe it's cleaner if I try to do that somewhere else.
"That's probably where this has gotten. Responsibility is shared in that regard. It doesn't mean we stop working and stop trying to compete at the level we have to."
Sweeney added that, ultimately, the situation will be resolved in the way that best fits the Bruins organization.
"That's our sole purpose in this is to make sure that we do what we feel is right for our club," said Sweeney. "We're a competitive club and obviously we'd like to continue to do that. How we make that decision is based on what other teams may or may not be engaging in."