How former Bruins are doing with their new teams.
Before the Canucks faced the Senators on Nov. 23, Jake DeBrusk asked Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark, his former Bruins teammate to ‘give him a goal’ because he hadn’t scored one in a while.
DeBrusk was kidding of course, but he scored two goals that night against Ullmark and hasn’t slowed down since. DeBrusk has always been a bunchy scorer but this is notable even by his standards. DeBrusk has 11 goals and two assists in his last 10 games.
That stretch includes the two vs. Ullmark and the Senators, three at Detroit and one in his return to to Boston. DeBrusk has 14 goals, which is as many as Connor McDavid and nine assists this season.
He’ll try to continue his torrid pace against the Bruins on Saturday in Vancouver.
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DeBrusk is one of three members of the 2023-24 Bruins, who are spending 2024-25 with the Canucks and among several in the NHL.
Here’s how they are doing through almost three months of play:
Jake DeBrusk, Vancouver
Jake DeBrusk
Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP
As noted above, he’s got 14 goals and nine assists for the Canucks, who are currently positioned as a wild-card team in the Western Conference.
Derek Forbort, Vancouver
Forbort
Edmonton Oilers’ Luke Philp (48) and Vancouver Canucks’ Derek Forbort (27) (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)AP
The burly stay-at-home defenseman has had a hard time staying on the ice this season. He missed games early for personal reasons and more for a knee injury before returning on Thursday.
Danton Heinen, Vancouver
Heinen
Vancouver Canucks left wing Danton Heinen warms up prior to an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne-Kamin-Oncea)AP
After a solid second stint in Boston, Heinen signed with the Canucks as a free agent. The Vancouver native has continued to be a solid and versatile contributor with four goals and seven assists in 28 games playing up and down the lineup.
James van Riemsdyk, Columbus
JVR
Columbus Blue Jackets forward James van Riemsdyk, left, control the puck in front of Montreal Canadiens forward Emil Heineman during an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)AP
The 35-year-old, who gave the Bruins a boost early last year has just three goals for the Blue Jackets this season and none this month. He played one year in Boston before signing a one-year, $900,000 contract with Columbus.
Pat Maroon, Chicago
big rig
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Maroon, right, confers with referee Chris Lee, left, in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)AP
The tough guy/fourth-line grinder, who the Bruins acquired last year as the trade deadline, joined the unofficial Bruins alumni association’s Chicago chapter where he plays with Nick Foligno, Tyler Bertuzzi, Taylor Hall, Ryan Donato and Craig Smith. Maroon has a goal and seven assists and 28 penalty minutes at age 36.
Jesper Boqvist, Florida
Boqvist
Florida Panthers’ Jesper Boqvist plays during an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP
Since joining his brother in Florida, the Swedish center has four goals and five assists for the defending Stanley Cup champions after being non-tendered by the Bruins.
Jakub Lauko, Minnesota
Lauko
Minnesota Wild center Jakub Lauko (94) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, Nov. 5, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)AP
After going in and out of the Bruins lineup, Lauko has two goals and two assists in 23 games for the surging Minnesota Wild.
Matt Grzelcyk, Pittsburgh
NHL: NOV 29 Penguins at Bruins
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 29: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (24) thanks the crowd after a video tribute for his return to Boston during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 29, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After signing a free-agent deal in Pittsburgh, the longtime Bruins has 14 assists in 31 games for the struggling Penguins.
Linus Ullmark, Ottawa
Linus Ullmark
Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)AP
After struggling out of the gate, Ullmark has rediscovered his game in December. He’s won three straight starts and has allowed just six goals in his last four games. This season he’s 8-7-2 with a 2.70 GAA and a .903 save percentage.
Jim Montgomery St. Louis
Monty
