What Jake Debrusk’s Injury means for the bruins

Photo from Michael Dwyer

Bruins’ second leading goal scorer Jake Debrusk was hit with a puck during this season’s Winter Classic and has since been placed on long term injury reserve with hand and lower body injuries.

It has been reported as a fractured fibula that is sidelining Debrusk with a timeline of around four weeks. Debrusk has been a revived player under new coach Jim Montogomery, and has put up 16 goals and 14 points thus far, on pace to smash through his own goal, assist, and point career highs. The Bruins have still been successful, winning their last three games without Debrusk against weaker competition out West. The black and gold will look to each winger to move up a line and provide offensive value to the team. David Pastrnak is back with the perfection line, and Taylor Hall moves up to play with the two Czechs in Pavel Zacha and David Krejci.

One thing that will not change is the Bruins’ need for contributions from Nick Foligno and Craig Smith to make up for the points Debrusk has brought this year. Nick Foligno has already past his point totals of last year and has been another surprise for the Bruins under Montgomery. On the other hand, Craig Smith, or Smitty has been the only player who has looked worse in the new season. He has just five points in 26 games. The injury to Debrusk is an opportunity for Smittty to pick his game back up whether that's playing with Marchand, Bergeron, or filling in on the third or fourth line. If the Bruins are to go on a run to the Stanley Cup, they will need depth, and to have Craig Smith playing well would be massive for the black and gold. If Smith does not perform, look for him to be a potential trade piece at the deadline. Debrusk is a key piece to lose at the mid-season mark and the Bruins will be hoping he recovers quickly. But in the meantime they will rely on Smith, Foligno, and Hall to pick up where Debrusk left off.