Jake DeBrusk: 2015 NHL Top Prospect

Jake DeBrusk — 

Winnipeg Hockey Talk’s evaluations of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft top prospects continue today with our featured prospect Jake DeBrusk.

League:  WHL     Team: Swift Current Broncos

Position:  LW     Shoots:  Left

DOB:  Oct. 17, 1996     Birthplace:  Edmonton, AB

Height: 6′     Weight:  180

2014-15 WHL Stats: Regular season

Games: 72   G: 42   A: 39  Pts: 81  PIM: 40   Plus/Minus: -9

2014-15 WHL Stats:  Playoffs 

Games: 3  G: 0   A: 0  Pts: 0  PIM: 10   Plus/Minus: -4

Jake DeBrusk played this past season in the WHL for the Swift Current Broncos.

Achievements:

1.  Selected 137th overall in the 7th round by the Swift Current Broncos in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.

2.  Played for Team Cherry at the 2014-15 CHL Top Prospects game.

Offensive Buzzwords

Jake DeBrusk is a goal scorer with a nose for the net.  He combines his better than average offensive instincts with nice play-making and passing skills along with a pro-level shot and release. 

From Cody Nickolet: website –  whlfromabove

is an absolute killer around the net and goes to the cage with immense regularity … is able to find loose pucks around the blue ice and finish plays off unlike any WHL player in this draft class

Skating

Jake DeBrusk is a good skater with better than average straight away speed with good balance and agility. 

From Cody Nickolet: website –  whlfromabove

skating has shown nice progression over the past calendar year … isn’t a super dynamic player but owns above-average top speed and fairly strong edges … despite good speed his acceleration is a tad clunky with his feet seeming a bit heavy at times, although I wouldn’t call it a major concern

#19 Jake DeBrusk:  video – :45 seconds  

Defensive Buzzwords

Like most younger players, Jake DeBrusk is not a perfect defensive player but he does have solid defensive awareness and is trusted to be a penalty killer at the WHL level.  He works hard to be a solid two-way player that plays a 200 ft game.

Prospect Analysis 

Jake Debrusk is a hard-working winger that can score.  He’s not a big player yet, but he is not afraid to go to the greasy areas to make a play or score a goal. What NHL team doesn’t need that?  DeBrusk works hard in all three zones and he has a nice mix of grit, good hockey sense, along with a solid compete level. He looks like a top six forward to me and some team in the latter half of the first round is going to get a nice surprise.  He is projected to go somewhere in the 25-30 range but don’t be shocked if he goes much earlier than that.    

Projected:  #20 – #24 

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Comments

  1. George Bain says

    I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jets selected him in the Draft if available. He can score and the Jets need goal scoring! A gritty WHL player that I believe the Jet’s management like a lot.

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