The Bruins Bench A Star Player

DeBrusk's unexpected absence from the lineup raised eyebrows, particularly since he was spotted practicing with the extra players during the morning skate at Crypto.com Arena. Head coach Jim Montgomery later disclosed that DeBrusk's tardiness for a team meeting would result in him missing the face-off against the Kings.

To fill the void left by DeBrusk, veteran winger Milan Lucic will step up from the fourth line, taking the reins as the first-line left wing alongside Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak.

The lineup adjustments don't stop there. Seasoned forward Patrick Brown will make his Boston Bruins debut, occupying the right wing position on the fourth line, while Jakub Lauko shifts to Lucic's left wing. Rookie center John Beecher will retain his position in the middle.

Changes also extend to the defensive lineup, as defenseman Ian Mitchell takes the place of veteran Kevin Shattenkirk, partnering with Derek Forbort on the third defensive pairing.

Jake DeBrusk has played all three games for the Boston Bruins this season but is yet to contribute a point on the scoreboard. The 27-year-old winger is in the final season of a two-year contract with a $4 million salary cap hit. Both DeBrusk and the Bruins have expressed mutual interest in extending the contract.

Reflecting on the situation, Boston Bruins' general manager Don Sweeney conveyed,

DeBrusk himself echoed similar sentiments a month earlier, expressing,

As seen on bruinsinsider