On today’s edition of Bruins grades, we will be doing two of the more difficult evaluations on the Bruins roster in Rick Nash and Jake DeBrusk.
One was a highly talented deadline acquisition that didn’t amount to much while the other was a surprise rookie who’s roller coaster season ended on a very high note.
It isn’t quite that simple for other of them however. Let’s start by diving into their numbers.
*Numbers only reflect Nash’s time in Boston*
Player: Rick Nash
Regular Season Stats: 3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points, -4
Post Season Stats: 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points, -7
Oh what could have been. The addition of Rick Nash looked like it was going to push this Bruins team over the top, but unfortunately it never really amounted to anything.
The trade deadline acquisition got off to a quick start in Boston and looked like he was going to create another lethal line to back up the Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron trio, and for a time he did.
Alongside David Krejci (who always seems to want to pass) Nash was constantly creating offensive chances and even managed to get a trio of early goals.
He was injured in March in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning and then …. kind of disappeared for awhile. The nature of the injury was never clear but the star winger just kept missing games.
Nash ended up playing only 11 games for the Bruins during the regular season so who knows what he could’ve done if he stayed healthy.
Once he did get healthy however … things didn’t get much better. Nash has a reputation for vanishing come playoff time and unfortunately for the Bruins, he was once again a no show.
His post season woes this time around could’ve been due to his mysterious injury, but there is no way to know for sure.
Grade: C
Player: Jake DeBrusk
Regular Season Stats: 16 goals, 27 assists, 43 points, +13
Post Season Stats: 6 goals, 2 assists, 8 points, -1
What a weird season for Bruins rookies. Everyone saw the Charlie McAvoy breakout coming, but not many can honestly say that they saw Jake DeBrusk’s breakout season going the way it did.
DeBrusk never found much consistency during the regular season, but when he got hot he was incredible.
The rookie lit the lamp 16 times over the year, five of which ended up being game- winning goals.
He won’t be remembered for his regular season play however as he came through big time during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Over their 12 playoff games in 2018, DeBrusk found the back of the net six times, many of which kept their season alive.
The rookie forward was the hero during the Bruins thrilling Game No.7 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring two incredibly clutch goals, the second of which being the game winner.
DeBrusk needs to find some consistency to his game, but the rookie has a very bright future.
Grade: B+
