The 25-year-old forward was in the final season of a two-year, $7.35 million contract ($3.675 AAV) he signed with the Bruins on Nov. 23, 2020. He could have become a restricted free agent after the season.
DeBrusk has scored 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 58 games this season. He has scored nine points (six goals, three assists) in 13 games since being moved to the top line with Brad Marchand and center Patrice Bergeron, who missed a third game with an arm injury when the Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime on Monday.
DeBrusk requested a trade earlier this season.
"I think this really puts some clarity for Jake in the sense that he doesn't have any trade protection, so we could have moved him prior to the deadline," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said. "We could revisit in the summertime. He could also go forward, most importantly, with just playing hockey and realizing that he's a big part of our team. He's gone in and played well with 'Bergy' and 'Marsh' and hopefully we're going to have that when Bergy gets back. We're going to need Jake. We feel he's an important part of our hockey club. We want him to feel that way."
As for whether Boston tried to trade DeBrusk, Sweeney said, "I've been having discussions on Jake for months. Today wasn't any different in terms of where teams thought he fit into their group and what they were trying to do. Some teams were down the road on other things and will pivot back maybe. But doesn't really matter at this point. Like I said, I sent a clear message to Jake and he sent one to us that he just wants to play hockey. Bottom line is he knows he's an important part, [if] he plays to his capabilities he's going to help us and help himself."
Selected by the Bruins with the No. 14 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, DeBrusk scored 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists) in 70 games as a rookie in 2017-18. He scored an NHL career-best 27 goals in 2018-19.
In five NHL seasons, DeBrusk has scored 160 points (82 goals, 78 assists) in 302 regular-season games, and 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists) in 59 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The Bruins (39-19-5) hold the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of the Washington Capitals.
NHL.com staff writer Amalie Benjamin contributed to this report
