Bruins HC Cassidy bluntly explains why he’s sitting DeBrusk!

We found out earlier today that the Boston Bruins will elect to sit goaltender Tuukka Rask and forward Jake DeBrusk for this evening’s game against the New York Islanders. Rask, according to head coach Bruce Cassidy, is simply in need of a rest day, while DeBrusk will be a healthy scratch.

However, when it comes to DeBrusk, the head coach had other comments in store to explain why he’s sitting him. 

The kid better listen and get better fast. 

“We’re not quite getting out of Jake what we want. … We just feel like we’re not always getting the effort required.”

“I still feel he’s been given ice time to perform to the best of his ability. We just feel we’re not getting the effort required. It’s not always about the score sheet. It’s about being one of 20 guys helping you win. Some nights it’s there, some nights it’s not. We tried different messaging with the player, and sometimes sitting upstairs and taking a look is not a bad way to go and put a different perspective on it and have a better appreciation for being in there. And then maybe educating yourself on some things you see from up top that look a little easier than during live action.”

If this surprises you then you probably haven’t been watching DeBrusk this season.The 24 year-old forward has been virtually invisible most nights this season and has just one goal through 17 games this season.

To make things worse for the young forward, he signed a two-year, $7.35M contract with the Bruins ahead of this shortened season, but he hasn’t lived up to his end of the bargain… 

DeBrusk put up 19 goals and 35 points in 2019-20 and was trusted on the roster to bring secondary offense over the past three seasons.

How things have changed… 

Hopefully he’ll be able to get his game back on track by watching from the press box this evening.