New details emerge on Jake DeBrusk being traded out of Vancouver

The biggest signal came December 13, when Vancouver dealt Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in a franchise-shaking blockbuster. That trade alone screams pivot, and it naturally puts more veterans under the microscope.

One name that keeps coming up around the league is Kiefer Sherwood, mostly because the contract is a steal. Vancouver signed him to a two-year deal with a $1.5 million cap hit, and he's heading toward UFA status in 2026.

Sherwood's production is what turns regular interest into real calls. He has 17 goals in 41 games, and those totals match across ESPN and PuckPedia.

That is first-line finishing at a bottom-six price, and it's why he feels like the obvious «value» chip. PuckPedia does not list trade protection on the deal, which makes the mechanics easier if Vancouver wants futures back.

Bruins fans can feel the pull here, because a familiar name always hits harder when the season feels tight.

DeBrusk has also drifted into the conversation after he was a healthy scratch on Monday against the Seattle Kraken, a move Reuters framed as a lineup decision with Vancouver suddenly deep at forward. Once that happens, trade speculation is basically automatic.

The on-ice case is tricky, because DeBrusk has not popped the way Vancouver hoped. He has 10 goals and 20 points in 40 games.

The contract is the real obstacle for any reunion idea. DeBrusk carries a $5.5 million cap hit through 2030-31, and he has a full no-movement clause through 2026-27, then a modified no-trade setup after that.

So if Boston is even thinking about a reunion, it would need to be the right fit, the right cap math, and the right timing. DeBrusk was Boston's 14th overall pick in 2015, and the history is real, but the leverage is in his hands.