Jake DeBrusk clearly wants to leave the Canucks

Jake DeBrusk was happy to return to his home region (Western Canada) in 2024 when he left Boston to sign with the Vancouver Canucks. But now he regrets it.

As reported by TVA Sports, the Canucks winger wants no part of being part of a rebuilding process going forward. Obviously, I don't agree with this rebuilding process. I have no intention of accepting it. My style doesn't fit with that.” — Jake DeBrusk He takes some of the blame (if I played better, we might be in a different position, he told the media), but he is clear: he has no intention of staying in Vancouver.

It's clear that if the Canucks managed to trade him, he would waive his no-trade clause to get out of there. In my opinion, he would say yes to a lot of teams right now.

At $5.5 million on his club's payroll until 2031, will clubs be knocking on the door for this 6'1″ winger who scores 40 to 50 points? Who knows.

In any case, Jimmy Murphy points out that the Canadiens were interested in DeBrusk in 2024, when he was a free agent looking for a new team.

Good call by Marc on DeBrusk here. I can confirm that the #GoHabsGo were interested in DeBrusk in free agency before he signed with the #Canucks. https://t.co/KoC3iJUidr

— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) March 3, 2026

Does Kent Hughes see DeBrusk (who is 29) as someone who could help in 2026 and for years to come? Would the price (which will surely be affected by the player's comments) be within the CH GM's budget? Who knows.

But we'll keep an eye on this story over the next few days.

In brief

– Note to self.

#CFMTL training Tuesday morning at Marie-Victorin:

1. Only one player absent (besides Josh Nteziryayo and Owen Grahame-Roache): Luca Petrasso.

Brandan Craig, who was absent yesterday, is here, but alone.

Reminder: Craig was hit in the face by a ball in Chicago. Were we worried about… pic.twitter.com/LZUJx5U7u7

— Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) March 3, 2026

— We need to bring him back to his natural side.

On the Canadiens at the deadline, a philosophical crossroads of sorts with a long-term plan they want to follow amid a season where opportunity appears to be knocking. They are juggling many balls, and not all of them are tangible.https://t.co/iw8UvH5066

— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) March 3, 2026

– Again?

Jacob Fowler (ill) remains absent from the Rocket's morning practice, but he skated alone earlier with Florian Xhekaj. Both are suffering from a virus.

Fowler's last start was on February 16. @TVASports

— Nicolas Cloutier (@NCloutierTVA) March 3, 2026

— Keep an eye on the Red Wings.

Nick Kypreos: Re Elias Pettersson: This may yet turn into a summer decision, but the connection with the Red Wings isn't going away — Sportsnet (3/2)

— NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumorReport) March 3, 2026

— He's still got it.

Evgeny Kuznetsov is still up to his old shootout tricks pic.twitter.com/vuvIPtGnmC

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) March 3, 2026