Heading into the off-season this year, there were a lot of rumours that Jake DeBrusk would not be returning.
When the off-season arrived, it became more clear that he was not going to re-sign with the Boston Bruins, not because he didn't want too, but because the Boston Bruins did not want to pay him what he wanted.
Don Sweeney stated that the Boston Bruins took an aggressive approach with Jake DeBrusk in contract negotiations, and ultimately, DeBrusk would walk in free agency.