Bruins GM confirms forward Jake DeBrusk wants a trade

ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reported Tuesday that the agent for Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk claimed DeBrusk requested a trade from the only NHL home he's had during his five seasons in the league over the weekend. 

Per Amalie Benjamin of the league's website, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney confirmed that story later in the day. 

"I'm not overly surprised that this eventually came out," Sweeney explained about the situation. "I've been in the know for quite some time and we've been trying to look at a hockey trade situation that would help the Boston Bruins and, as I do my job, accommodate with what Jake thinks best. There's a balance there." 

DeBrusk has three goals and three assists across 17 games this season but was a healthy scratch for this past Sunday's 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. The 25-year-old is expected to be in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Detroit Red Wings with Brad Marchand serving a three-game suspension and Anton Blidh sidelined with an upper-body injury. 

DeBrusk tallied five goals and nine assists in 41 regular-season games in 2020-21 and has seen his on-ice time decrease over each of the past three seasons. He can become a restricted free agent next summer, but Sweeney added he expects the winger to "play well" as the Bruins search for a trade that best benefits everyone involved.