Canucks’ Jake DeBrusk breaks silence on upcoming 'embarrassing' healthy scratch

Vancouver Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk spoke openly after learning he will be a healthy scratch. The Canucks practiced Sunday at Rogers Arena, and DeBrusk skated as the extra forward during line rushes. He would sit on Monday night, when Canucks face the Seattle Kraken.

The decision came after Vancouver’s 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks, and DeBrusk did not avoid the topic when meeting reporters.

"It’s embarrassing," DeBrusk said. [4:54] "I mean, anytime you miss a game, it’s embarrassing. I’d be wrong if I wasn’t saying I’d be pissed off right now, but I understand. And I need a jolt too. I obviously haven’t been good enough. Anytime that you’re in this position, it’s lots of things."

DeBrusk added that he needs a spark and must focus on what he can control.

"So, I gotta control what I can do from this point forward and just worry about me," DeBrusk said. "I think there’s a lot of different things. The good thing about this situation, in my previous times being scratched, you have a clean slate. So I care less about what has happened."

Jake DeBrusk has nine goals this season and 17 points, with eight goals coming on the power play. He said that the imbalance has been frustrating, and that his career has been built on even-strength offense.

"I’ve been known my whole career as a 5-on-5 contributor, and it hasn’t come," DeBrusk said. "It’s been probably the most frustrating year of my career by far. So, I mean, eventually you just gotta do the right things, gotta do the right details... landmarks... ABCs... And eventually they’ll go in... You gotta be mature in this spot."

DeBrusk is in the second year of a long-term deal. He signed a seven-year contract worth $38.5 million, earning $5.5 million per season on average. The contract runs through the 2030–31 season, and the expectations are definitely higher for him.

Canucks coach's comments on Jake DeBrusk's being a healthy scratch

Vancouver’s struggles add pressure to Jake DeBrusk's situation. The Canucks sit near the bottom of the Pacific Division, with a 15-19-3 record. They secured four good wins recently, including a 3-0 shutout against the NY Rangers, despite trading their captain, Quinn Hughes, to the Minnesota Wild.

However, they followed that stretch with two bad losses, a 5-2 loss to Philadelphia and another 6-3 loss to San Jose. Their defense has been a major issue all season, and even scoring has been missing at times.

DeBrusk has not contributed much over the last five games, registering just two assists. This was the prime reason in Canucks coach Adam Foote's decision.

"[DeBrusk], he’s been a little bit stale as far as chances 5v5," Foote said. "I think it’s going to be a good reset for him."

Jake DeBrusk will treat the scratch as a clean slate and plans to focus on details and consistency. The next step will be how he responds when he returns against the Philadelphia Flyers.

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Edited by Ankit Kumar