How ex-Bruins Ullmark, DeBrusk and others play with new teams originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins had a busy offseason that included some notable departures.
They made a successful exchange who sent former Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators in June, then when free agency began July 1, the Original Six franchise lost top-six forward Jake DeBruskveteran defensemen Derek Forbort and Matt Grzelcyk, among others.
The B’s also brought in many new faces, highlighted by the free agent additions of The center of the top 6 Elias Lindholm and fourth defender Nikita Zadorov.
Let’s see how some of the players who left the Bruins during the offseason play with their new teams now that the 2024-25 campaign is about three weeks long.
Linus Ullmark, G, Senators
It’s been a rough start in Ottawa for Ullmark. He is 1-2-0 with a .885 save percentage and a 3.35 GAA in four appearances (three starts). He missed a few games earlier this month due to injury. Ullmark also ranks 57th out of 70 goalkeepers in goals saved above expectation (-2.3), by MoneyPuck.
This is only a four-game sample size for Ullmark, who has been one of the league’s best goalies over the past three years, but the Senators need him to play at a high level and on a consistent basis for making the playoffs in an ultra-competitive Atlantic Division. . Goaltending was the Senators’ biggest weakness last season, and Ullmark was hired to fix it.
Fortunately for Ullmark, he signed a four-year contract extension worth $33 million ($8.25 million salary cap) before opening night, so he doesn’t have to worry about free agency next summer. He is signed for the 2028-29 campaign.
Jake DeBrusk, LW/RW, Canucks
DeBrusk, who signed a seven-year, $38.5 million contract in free agency, has yet to score his first goal as a member of the Canucks.
The 28-year-old forward has no goals and four assists in eight games with Vancouver. He recorded just 13 shots on goal in that span, including three games in which he didn’t make a single shot.
DeBrusk has been an inconsistent scorer throughout his career, and he often went long stretches without finding the back of the net for the Bruins. But when he’s rolling, DeBrusk can score goals in batches.
Slow starts are not uncommon for DeBrusk. It took him nine games to score his first goal with the Bruins last season, and he has just three goals for Boston through his first 18 games of the 2021-22 campaign.
DeBrusk’s lack of offense doesn’t hurt the Canucks too much, however. They are 4-1-3 through eight games with a five-game point streak.
Danton Heinen, LW/RW, Canucks
Heinen scored two goals and two assists in eight games with the Canucks.
He also plays an important role on special teams with 1:38 of power play ice time per game and 1:15 of shorthanded ice time per game.
Heinen settled into a left wing role on the third line alongside Teddy Blueger and Kiefer Sherwood. This trio has played 35:19 together at 5-on-5, and the Canucks have a 43-35 advantage in shot attempts, a 25-19 advantage in shots on goal, a 16-15 advantage in chances to score and a 4-0 goal differential in these minutes.
Derek Forbort, D, Canucks
Forbort was scoreless with one assist and three shots in three games for the Canucks. The veteran defenseman brought size, physicality and a consistent defensive presence to Vancouver’s blue line. He also played a key role in the Canucks’ penalty kill with 3:27 of shorthanded ice time per game (the second-highest total on the team).
Forbort joined the Canucks on Monday following the death of his father. He hasn’t played for Vancouver since October 15.
Matt Grzelcyk, D, Penguins
It’s been a rough start defensively for Grzelcyk in Pittsburgh. His minutes played with Erik Karlsson didn’t go well, to say the least. The Penguins were outshot 42-22 and outshot 5-1 in 55:10 of 5-on-5 ice time. Grzelcyk and Karlsson played together, by natural statistics trick.
Grzelcyk played the majority of his ice time 5-on-5 (102:29) with Kris Letang, but those minutes weren’t great either. The Penguins were dominated in shots and points when the Grzelcyk-Letang duo was on the ice.
Overall, Grzelcyk has been on the ice for 53 high-danger chances against 5v5which is the largest number of defenders entering Tuesday. It’s not entirely his fault, but the Penguins need more from him defensively.
From a goalscoring perspective, Grzelcyk has zero goals with four assists in 10 games. He ranks third among Pittsburgh defensemen with 1:45 of power play time per game, and he has yet to record a single point on the power play.
James van Riemsdyk, AG, Blue Jackets
Van Riemsdyk scored two goals with an assist for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who played above expectations with a 4-3-1 record in eight games.
The veteran forward excels in front of the net, and he’s already made a difference there for Columbus:
Van Riemsdyk primarily plays a bottom-six role for the Blue Jackets, while also getting 1:27 of power play ice time per game. His scoring depth and leadership will be valuable to a young Blue Jackets team trying to learn how to win.
