Jake DeBrusk found himself between the Canucks’ feuding star centres last season. It was quite the introduction to Vancouver hockey<\/p>\n
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Published Aug 28, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0hour ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n To say Jake DeBrusk\u2019s first season in Vancouver was a whirlwind is probably an understatement.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n He was joining a team that was coming off a strong season, looking like they were going places. Sure, they probably weren\u2019t going to repeat as division winners, but they\u2019d played hard in 2023-24, they played a fun two-way system, they had a couple of star centres, a superstar defenceman, a player-friendly coach and of course there\u2019s Vancouver itself, a great place to live.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n DeBrusk was signed to help improve the team that had pushed the Edmonton Oilers<\/a>, eventual Stanley Cup finalists, to the brink. And on the ice, he delivered, scoring 28 goals, a career high.<\/p>\n But very little else went to plan. The Canucks didn\u2019t stumble out of the gate, indeed their start suggested maybe they\u2019d continue on the hot streak they\u2019d rode most of the previous season. But then things went south. J.T. Miller<\/a> struggled to make an impact as an injury suffered in training camp didn\u2019t clear up.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n And Elias Pettersson<\/a> struggled too, for reasons that remain somewhat unclear, though there are a collection of clues. He\u2019d suffered some knee tendinitis the previous spring, which apparently hampered his off-season preparation. But even so, team management felt he should have arrived in training camp in better shape. He wasn\u2019t skating anywhere near as well as he used to, nor was he firing the puck like he had before.<\/p>\n Further, he appeared to be struggling with confidence; some posited it had to do with the serious rift that finally developed between him and Miller.<\/p>\n Whatever the case, both players struggled and when the team\u2019s strategy is designed to lean on two players who are struggling, its almost certain the team\u2019s result will sink, just as they did for the Canucks in 2024-25.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n DeBrusk found himself sitting in a stall that just about right between where Miller and Pettersson sat and clearly the scene was an awkward one at times.<\/p>\n In early November, after some sort of incident in the dressing room, likely following a home game vs. the Nashville Predators where Miller was benched for a time, Miller told the team he needed to take a leave of absence for personal reasons.<\/p>\n Miller taking a leave was a lot to take, DeBrusk admitted to the Edmonton Journal\u2019s Jim Matheson this week.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the most intense. As a guy who had just met him, you hope he\u2019s OK. You don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on. But everything happens for a reason,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n DeBrusk is as friendly a hockey player as you can find. He\u2019s friendly with his teammates, he\u2019s friendly with fans, he\u2019s friendly with the media.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cJ.T. had me over for dinner a couple of times and I love him a lot. I was sitting beside Petey in the dressing room and we hung out a lot. It became a thing where I was almost the middle man,\u201d DeBrusk said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn all fairness I wish the best for J.T. and his family, They welcomed me. For me it\u2019s unfortunate. I wanted to play longer with them but it\u2019s not my decision. Trades happen all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n The team\u2019s roster has evolved since then, with the defence corps being overhauled. The forward group is much the same, with management at the moment speaking very positively about what Filip Chytil can bring to the table as a second-line centre, despite avowals earlier this year that they needed to add another second-line forward, likely a centre.<\/p>\n That hasn\u2019t happened.<\/p>\n But DeBrusk sees the team\u2019s strengths \u2014 the defence corps and in net, assuming Thatcher Demko<\/a> is fully healed and able to play like his old, healthy self \u2014 and figures that\u2019s a good place to start. They need more goals, but at least they won\u2019t be giving up too many.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, we need more goals but I\u2019d rather have that (issue) than no defence. We\u2019ll have to win some 2-1 games, I guess,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n pjohnston@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n The 2020 bubble Canucks were onto something. What happened?<\/p>\n![\"alt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/canucks-wild-hockey.jpg\")
Jake DeBrusk found himself between the Canucks’ feuding star centres last season. It was quite the introduction to Vancouver hockey. Photo by Craig Lassig \/THE ASSOCIATED PRESSArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.4.3\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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