DeBrusk says season with Bruins has been 'definite learning curve'

Jake DeBrusk was not having the season he hoped to have, even before the NHL season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. The Boston Bruins forward wasn't happy with his consistency (or lack thereof), his point total, or the way he had gone in and out of the good graces of coach Bruce Cassidy.

The pause has given him a chance to think and reflect on why it happened.

"Overall it's almost a blessing in a way to have this time because I have had to take a step back and understand what kind of player I want to be in this league and what kind of player that I can be," DeBrusk said Wednesday.

"I know what it's like to feel consistency. There's times where I get going and it seems like the puck just keeps going in the net. That's obviously what every player wants. But just remembering how that feels, I feel like I use my speed and my attributes to the best of my ability and that's usually why it happens. It's just more so a fact of keeping a focus on it, not letting it slip."

In his second NHL season (2018-19), DeBrusk set an NHL career high with 27 goals and had 15 assists in 68 games. This season, DeBrusk had 35 points (19 goals, 16 assists) in 65 games.

"Understanding when things aren't going well that way, to combat that it's mind games that you have to play with yourself," DeBrusk said. "I think this year was a definite learning curve for myself. It seems that things really weren't going my way in a sense. In saying that, I still almost had 20 goals, so there's a double-edged sword to both things."

DeBrusk said he realizes he wasn't building on last season, something that became more clear to him during the pause while he's been with his family in Edmonton, including his father, former NHL player and current Sportsnet analyst Louie DeBrusk.

"It's something that I strive for, something that every player in this league strives for is consistency," Jake DeBrusk said. "I have watched my games. I kind of took a step back and looked at my whole year, obviously. Being back home, my dad, he's been all over me about it, so I've been thinking a little more than usual, I guess."

Other than streaming daily video games with teammate David Pastrnak, DeBrusk has had plenty of time to ponder what happened.

"To be honest with you, I don't really know if I had a consistent stretch this year," he said. "Just seemed like production-wise and overall game, it wasn't necessarily where I wanted to be. I understand that there are certain elements that come into it, whether it's being too hard on myself and kind of eating myself alive at certain times or just different elements that kind of pop up during the year that you look back on and maybe it affected your game."

Before the pause, DeBrusk was moved off his usual line with David Krejci and placed on Charlie Coyle's line, with the Bruins integrating new forwards Ondrej Kase and Video: ARI@BOS: DeBrusk tips home Pastrnak's shot for PPG.

"I do feel like I can play with either guy," DeBrusk said. "It seemed like even when I was playing with Coyle, whether I produced or something happened in the game, it seemed like I always kind of came back to [Krejci]. Especially getting those players at the [NHL Trade Deadline], you're trying to figure out different lines and chemistries."

No matter where he ends up in the lineup, DeBrusk said he would like to return to finish the season that holds such promise for the Bruins, who are leading the NHL standings with 100 points.

"Definitely wanted to be better this year," DeBrusk said. "And our team was rolling, so it would have been nice if I could have helped even more."

Either way, the pause and the pandemic has given him a chance to think about his career, his game, and how everything fits in.

"That's another thing that motivates [you], kind of putting everything in perspective and understanding how lucky you are to play the game," DeBrusk said. "You miss it a lot when it gets taken away from you."