Jake DeBrusk Says He's Open To a Trade... In So Many Words

How do you ask for a trade, without asking for one?

When rumors starting floating around last week about Jake DeBrusk being a trade candidate, Vancouver Canucks insiders sniffed around and concluded that DeBrusk had NOT asked for a trade. He apparently wanted to see through whatever rebuild the Canucks were undertaking.

But then he said this in the Vancouver Province on Tuesday, per Ben Kuzma:

I think a rebuild is hard for every player, but at the same point it’s a great opportunity for younger guys. This game humbles everybody and it’s been a little bit more than humbling this year.
Obviously, that (rebuild) is not something I would be okay with or accepting. My game doesn’t fit that.

Hmm. Sure sounds like a player who will be asking out. That is mastering the art of asking for a trade without actually coming out and asking for one.

DeBrusk is 29, and wouldn't qualify as one of those "younger guys."

As Rick Dhaliwal said about the comments today, "Basically, agents tell the players don't ask publicly for a trade... They're not gonna win with the fans... (But) This is him saying, 'Hey guys, if you can move me, great.'"

DeBrusk has 5 years left on his deal, but he didn't sign up for this

DeBrusk is only in Year 2 of a seven-year, $38.5M contract ($5.5M AAV) that he signed with the Canucks as a free agent in the summer of 2024. But he certainly didn't sign up for this. Vancouver was coming off a 109-point, first-place season that summer. Needless to say, it's been a precipitous and unexpected decline for the Canucks since then. From missing the playoffs last year with 90 points, to sitting in last place overall in the entire NHL this year.

The 29-year-old had a career-best 28-goal season in his first year in Vancouver, but has slumped to just 13 goals this time around, through 59 games. On pace for his lowest goal output in five years. He was even a healthy scratch for a game earlier this season.

And let's take you back to that late December time, when DeBrusk didn't take too kindly to sitting in the press box.

“It’s embarrassing,” DeBrusk said then of the scratch. “I’d be wrong to say I wasn’t pissed off, but I understand I needed the jolt."

The Canucks have plenty of irons in the fire at this deadline. It sounds like DeBrusk wouldn't mind if he could escape the heat.