Free-agent acquisition DeBrusk leads the Canucks with 21 goals, is on pace for a career-high 31, and ranks fifth overall with 15 road goals
Some guys are just wired differently.
It doesn’t matter which NHL team they play on, how many minutes are logged, or how they are deployed on special teams, production can run from hot to cold. It’s not by design, it’s by circumstance, or a deep-down belief that there will be a way to rout the drought.
Which brings us to the “Magical Mystery Tour” that is Jake DeBrusk.
He also scored Saturday in Las Vegas, which wasn’t surprising, because he ranks fifth overall with 15 road goals and is proving a prudent free-agent play by the Canucks on July 1.
On an impressive shift against the Golden Knights, in which the Canucks maintained offensive-zone possession, DeBrusk took the inside passage to the faceoff hash marks. He then snapped a sweet feed from Kiefer Sherwood, who was positioned behind the net, to the short side.
DeBrusk, 28, has already surpassed the 19 goals he scored with the Boston Bruins last season and is on pace for a career-high 31. It has come despite a nine-game drought to start this season, then three goals in three games, six without scoring, six goals in four games, and then an 11-game scoreless funk.
It’s hard to explain because the 6-foot-1, 198-pound DeBrusk endured the same in Boston. But he moves well for a big winger and can more than hold his own in front of the net for screens, tips, deflection and depositing rebounds.
“It’s in terms of just being aggressive,” DeBrusk told Postmedia. “It’s tracking down pucks on the forecheck and there’s something to be said for getting to the net more.
“I’m thinking about everything that leads up to that with the routes and winning puck battles, not necessarily the product of getting shots.”
However, when DeBrusk does load up his wrist shot, it comes off the blade in a hurry and finds small open spaces of the net. He struck for his second career hat trick Dec. 1 in Detroit by taking a drop pass from Pettersson and snapping a wrist shot off the post and in with a minute remaining for a 5-4 victory.
It capped a four-point night, the third of his career, and drew plaudits.
The initial return on a seven-year, $38.50 million US commitment to DeBrusk could pay future dividends.
The Canucks kicked the free-agent tires on Jake Guentzel, who landed in Tampa Bay, while Sam Reinhart remained in Florida and Tyler Toffoli chose San Jose. But DeBrusk wasn’t a reach. He was always on the Canucks’ radar because his value could extend into the post-season, which is the true measure of commitment and connecting on scoring chances.
DeBrusk led the Bruins with 11 points (5-6) in 13 playoff games last spring, was second in hits (53) and second among forwards in blocked shots (16). Being that present when it matters most will resonate with Tocchet.
DeBrusk also learned “The Boston Way” of versatility and compete by aligning with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand and also taking shifts with David Pastrnak. It’s paying off.
Is Quinn finally back in?
Hughes missed six games in the injury rehab process, and the accent Wednesday — if he feels ready to go — is on the freewheeling defenceman helping to trigger a struggling offence that is having trouble finding the net and lighting the lamp. The Canucks rank 31st in shots per game (25.5) and 25th in goals per outing (2.74).
As the fleet-footed and quick-thinking power play quarterback, Hughes also provides the needed dimensions of quicker rotations and better shot selection, rather than remaining plodding and predictable.
It’s why Hughes continues to lead the Canucks in scoring with 59 points (14-45) in 47 games and remains in the conversation for a second-consecutive Norris Trophy and Hart Trophy consideration. He is just five points shy of leading all defencemen in scoring, despite playing 12 less games, and his overall value to the Canucks cant’t be overstated.