Bruins forward expected to use Brandon Hagel's extension to secure big pay day; unfortunately, it may not be in Boston
Every once and awhile a player signs a contract that completely resets the market for players of their calibre. Unfortunately for the Bruins, when Tampa's Brandon Hagel signed an 8-year $52,000,000 contract, it set Jake DeBrusk up with the basis for a sizable contract in Boston, using Hagel as a direct comparison.
Independent Boston Bruins reporter Joe Haggerty surmises that Brandon Hagel�s recent eight-year, $6.5MM AAV extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning likely sets the table for Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk�s next deal. The circumstances surrounding DeBrusk are a bit different, however. Not only is DeBrusk two years older than Hagel, but he's slated for unrestricted free agency next summer � a threat Tampa wasn't facing with Hagel, at least not imminently.
Last season, DeBrusk scored 27 goals and 23 assists for 50 points in 64 games for the Bruins. In comparison, Hagel scored 30 goals and 34 assists for 64 points in 81 games. As mentioned by Haggerty, DeBrusk will also have the ability to test the open market should the Bruins choose to let him get that far, whereas Hagel signed his extension ahead of time.
The Bruins have already dealt with enough loss this summer, watching Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retire, trading Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno to Chicago, and failing to re-sign Tyler Bertuzzi and Dmitry Orlov, who signed UFA deals in Toronto and Carolina, respectively.
| POLL | ||
27 AOUT | 143 ANSWERS Bruins forward expected to use Brandon Hagel's extension to secure big pay day; unfortunately, it may not be in Boston In light of so many key pieces leaving, what should the Bruins approach be going forward? | ||
| Continue to try to contend | 43 | 30.1 % |
| Retool on the fly | 69 | 48.3 % |
| Full rebuild | 31 | 21.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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