DeBrusk takes subtle shot at teams who didn't sign him during free agency

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Cooper Godin
July 3, 2024 (8:13)

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The Vancouver Canucks made a big splash in the free market on Monday after losing a few some significant names of their own including Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm.

General Manager Patrik Allvin announced on Monday that the team had signed unrestricted free agent forward Jake DeBrusk to a seven-year contract worth $38.5 million ($5.5 million AAV). Several teams were linked to Jake DeBrusk including the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings, David Pagnotta said back in May.

Ultimately, DeBrusk landed in Vancouver and has a big opportunity ahead of him, no matter if he plays on Elias Pettersson or J.T. Miller's line and during his media availability on Monday, he took a subtle shot at the Bruins and other teams that didn't sign him, saying that he wanted to go somewhere he could win.

"I wanted to go to a team that could win, and I'm very lucky that they wanted me." DeBrusk said.

During his time with the Boston Bruins, the team had some success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, making it to the Final in his second year in the NHL in 2019, but they would go on to lose to the St. Louis Blues in seven games. That would be as far as DeBrusk would make it as in the five years since, Boston has had three second-round exits and a pair of first-round exits.

In Vancouver, DeBrusk joins a very deep forward group, which is no doubt better than the one he was apart of in Boston, which will give him a pretty good chance at winning the Stanley Cup at any point throughout his seven-year deal. Now it's up to him to prove that he's worth the money Vancouver is committing to him and get back to the player we know he can, putting up 20+ goals a season.