Jake DeBrusk Discusses Vancouver Life, Being a Net-Front Presence, and More | Canucks Insider Pod

Jake DeBrusk Discusses Vancouver Life, Being a Net-Front Presence, and More | Canucks Insider Pod

Hello Conucks fans. Welcome back to another episode of the Canucks Insider podcast. My name is Chris Faber and this week we are joined by a man who is in his second year with the Canucks after scoring a career-high 28 goals with 14 of them coming on the Power Play. He is Jake De Brusk and he makes his debut on the podcast. Jake, welcome to the pod. Nice to have me here. Hey, I I’m excited to be here. Uh first time on the pod. Yeah, rookie. Have how many podcasts do you think you’ve done in your life? I’ve seen you around on a couple. Uh not that many actually. I try to stay away. Not know I don’t pick them. Um, but uh, yeah, I find I when podcasts I I like the style of talking. I like I like watching podcasts. I think I actually am not bad on them, but uh, I sometimes get lost a little bit. The longer the conversation goes on, I say more things I probably should. Yeah, that that’s always the worry with these things, right? Too many guys get in trouble doing podcast. Yeah, I mean, it’s fun and I think like nowadays with everyone how they everyone’s on their phones and social media and you just kind of get I like hearing what guys say and and things like that. But uh yeah, I started off with spitting chicklets and then I kind of went on a couple more here and there kind of if I get asked and if if the moment’s right, I guess. Yeah. Love it. Well, I was actually thinking about making one actually really uh with the former teammate. Well, it was just going to be hot stove like I mean everyone’s doing it now, but having players actually do it that are playing in the in the actual current season, kind of like the Kelsey brothers actually. I wasn’t surprised to see someone do it cuz I was thinking about doing it a couple years ago. But uh there’s a lot more risk there uh as you know scheduling and different things and obviously with uh the editing and stuff. So uh didn’t go didn’t go through with it. If you want you could edit this. You can get like a feel for everything like you can take a take a job off of our What about it? You got a title for this? Have you have you spitball a little bit? Uh yes. We were good. There’s one that was going to be an incognito one where like we would no one would really know it was us and we just say whatever we wanted to say. Um but uh yeah. I don’t know. I think it was just hot stove but I feel like everyone’s like it’s this was years ago. So now I feel like everyone’s kind of taking the easy ones and uh different things, but uh think of something original. Yeah. Okay. Well, well, you come from a family who’s got some broadcasting experience obviously with your dad. And I’m not going to ask a question about your dad cuz I heard a quote from him that it was actually your mom that got you into hockey. Oh wow. But she she got you into skating lessons and bought you into gear for the first time. I wanted to ask and start there with your mom because where where is a better place to start? Yeah. Your mom getting you started in hockey, what was she like to influence you when you were playing as a young guy? Oh, she was the one you didn’t want to drive home with after a bad game. you know, no offense, mom. Um, when I got later, she still probably, if you ever, if you ever been in arena when she’s there, you’ll probably hear her yell skate a couple times, but, uh, she was great. She was, you know, my dad was obviously gone and busy and, um, doing, you know, following his passion and, um, she was, like you said, the one that always was kind of bring me to those, uh, early mornings. You know, whenever he could, he would. But, uh, yeah, I could see that. I could see that she probably wanted me to get into the game. Um, but, uh, I obviously looked up to my dad the most. I think that was the biggest reason. I’ll say that. Um, but she uh she sacrificed a lot of her time and and um you know in her work as well to help me uh yeah get out there and I wasn’t the prettiest of skaters. I wasn’t necessarily the best of students. So uh she has a lot of patience that’s for sure. No, when you said that it reminded me of my mom. Like I remember finishing a baseball game one time and they were like, “Is your mom all right?” Like and I’m like, “Yeah, she’s okay. She just likes to get into it. Hockey mom.” Yeah, exactly. It’s all that fun stuff. Um I I did hear as well like when you were quite young like you weren’t the biggest guy either. you had quite a gross rate. Was it 15 16? So, what was it like kind of growing up just being one of the smaller guys on there? I was always the smallest guy actually. Uh yeah, I mean it was uh I always got told I was going to grow. Um everybody was telling me I was going to grow. Um I wasn’t necessarily worried about it, but then it gets to ages 13, 14. Some of your friends are 6 foot. Some friends have, you know, facial hair now and puberty hits everyone at different points, but I was a late bloomer in all fronts. And uh yeah, I think it was around 15. uh I broke my thumb and uh don’t know how or why, but I remember that was a time where I started catching people when I was just kind of chilling and because when I came back from that thumb injury, it wasn’t a huge growth spur. I never had growth pains, but I didn’t stop growing after that point. But being small, it gives you it’s honestly a lot of disadvantages, especially on the ice. Um but learn it makes you learn how to play uh differently and it’s kind of funny looking back cuz even then I was still playing net front and I’m I don’t know why. I mean, now I know why, but wasn’t really good a good screen back in the day. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I’m worried now that like the 12-year-old short guys are going to like go just smash their thumb in a door and be like, “That’s the trick. That’s going to get me.” I think it was I think it was honestly the fact that I just got recovery. I think it was the fact that I was just, um, I think everything happens for a reason. Um, good and bad. But, um, I remember that being a pivotal point, not of it getting broken. That sucked. I missed on a breakaway and I jam my thumb. Yeah. In in the wall, boxers fracture. But, no, long story short, I I remember coming back from that injury. I just felt like I had a lot of sleep. I was really tired and I was just like, you know, recovering and eating lots and you know, I think I still think this day my dad spiked something. I think it was called mutant mass the protein I was having back in the day. I don’t know if that’s legal nowadays, but I think there was a little bit of mess messing around going on around that time because the BAM draft is coming up, but um no, it went smooth. Yeah, that’s awesome. Well, second year now with the Canucks. Uh I’m sure it was quite a different like offseason knowing what you’re getting into a little bit this year. Uh, how different does it feel coming into this year just having a different run from like having to meet everyone and now you know everyone? Must be a lot more of a better feeling here in year two. Way way more comfortable for sure. Obviously, even knowing you and everyone. Um, but um yeah, I mean I moved also in the summer as well. I moved to Calgary and so I was meeting a lot of new people for a long time. So I felt like um I felt like I had an advantage growing up where I moved around a lot with my dad. Um you know going to different schools and um kind of the way I am, my personality, it’s pretty you know out there. So, uh, I feel like I’m okay with meeting new people, but it definitely feels different when coming into camp and you know, you know some of the drills, you know the coaches, you know, you know there’s different players, different changes, but even knowing the guys as well. And um, definitely made uh, it a lot more easy in in that term, but I thought last year was pretty easy transition as well. The guys uh, welcome you open arms. So, um, it was it’s nice and as the years go on, you go through hs and highs, you you get closer and um, that’s what uh, those are things you remember about when when you’re done. Yeah. And I have to imagine it’s it’s nice too when you know you get to be the guy who’s welcoming a new guy to the team, right? Like that part’s got to be good. And especially so many young guys coming in like they look to a guy who’s been here for a little bit. Now you get to be that guy here with you know long contract here with the team. You’re going to be in Vancouver for a hot minute. Um what does that mean to you just to be able to know that you’re going to be here for a while? No, that was I mean it’s an honor honestly. Um you know you you think about it and um there’s not very many guys that get the opportunity to have that and everyone’s saying how the cap’s going up and all that but it only helps us uh in that way. Yeah, I mean it’s a I think it’s a partnership in terms of both sides and um No, I mean and even what you were saying earlier about the young guys and stuff. Some guys thought think I’ve been here longer than I have, if that makes any sense. Um and we had some new players come in last year. So um I feel like we’re all kind of coming in actually at the same time which makes it kind of fun. But um no, being able to be here longterm is uh you know, knock on wood, is obviously uh you know, something that I was very fortunate and I don’t take it for granted, that’s for sure. Yeah. Well, one of those young guys and and I wanted to ask about just came to my mind here like watching Braden Coots come in at 18 years old and the photo of you guys when he’s a little kid and you’re a little kid in that photo as well. Like how crazy was that? And what’s it like to just have an 18-year-old jump into an NHL locker room and like play some games, get that experience? Like that’s got to be crazy for an 18-year-old. It’s impressive. And um you know, as a as a veteran, u you kind of get in your own little routines trying to get uh ready for the regular season the first couple games. And to be honest with you, I don’t really start very well, so I’m always kind of in my head. So, um, but in in the in fairness, uh, you try not to give that off on a guy that’s super excited and, you know, as 18-year-old making out of camp’s impressive. I’ve only seen it one other time and he was a 19-year-old. Um, but, uh, yeah, obviously Edmonton born kid, I knew it as soon as they picked him, I sent him a message, um, saying to see you as soon cuz I was excited. I I always like having guys that are, you know, I’m biased Canadian and from Edmonton helps as well, but um the first conversation I had with him, we were on the ice and I was kind of talking to him a little bit and uh he told me that he had a picture with me and he’s like, “You probably don’t remember it though.” And I was thinking in my head, I was like, “Where would I have a picture with this this guy?” But then this is me aging myself. Then I saw the picture and I freaked out. I was like, “Oh my god.” I was like, “I am old. I am very old.” But um he’s an impressive player and um you know I think he plays the right way and obviously there’s so much um you know there’s a lot of pressure as an 18-year-old coming and all you want to do is stay and play and um but he’ll be around. I’ll be seeing more of him and um he just needs to keep um doing what he does and um but yeah I’ll be keeping my eye on him that’s for sure. Yeah, it hits different now when you like you know like I’ll see prospect highlights online and it’s like an ’08 born kid and I’m like the double O’s. I remember when double O’s were a thing. 2000s or the the James Bonds, the 07s man. But yeah, it’s kind of the double O’s is weird, eh? Yeah, it’s tough. ’90s in there real fast. Um, you mentioned it though, like you know, another Canadian kid playing in the Canadian market. That must mean quite a bit to you as well. Like you you get it like you get what this is all about here being in the Canadian market. For sure. I mean, I grew up obviously in Edmonton and uh I grew up in an age of darkness is what we called it. Um, but uh you know, it sucked as a fan honestly. It really did. But you always remember the good times. You remember the 06 cup run and um just to get to see how the crowd was there and uh that was one of my main reasons for signing here as well was to be back in Canada and also at the same point hear the fans. I was watching it um last or two years ago uh I guess now and it looked like a jungle and that’s where you want to play. You want to play in the loudest places. You want to play in the places that um they’ll let you know how they think you’re playing at all costs and uh you know I think it’s that’s what comes with the territory. But in saying that, um I think the biggest thing is with fan bases like this, if you just honestly work through everything, if you work hard, um and they see that you’re given the effort, uh what can they really complain about? You know, that’s something that obviously only we can control, but um you know, I think that that’s something that I’m going to be focusing on no matter what the uh stats are. It’s easy to say when the stats aren’t great, but uh this is what happened last year. So um it is what it is. Yeah, it’s I mean the fan base you watch like you know guys like Ke for sure were getting chance when they you know like they recognize when a guy is giving that effort and going that way like that’s got to be the coolest part that I think just from view. I’m not on the ice experience like you but like I see a guy like in this market especially whether you’re top line fourth line you give that effort you give the right play like you get recognized in these type of markets. Oh for sure. I mean, I that’s that’s exactly the best probably um example of what I was just saying, you know, that that he’s he’s a guy who always has heart and soul on the sleeve. Ever has since I’ve met him. Um I try to calm down as much as I can. He’s a little, you know, I’m pretty much like the angel on the shoulder in some ways, but sometimes I stir him up a little bit just to see what he’s got. But, um that’s that’s exactly it. And uh it’s kind of cool to hear some chants. Obviously, uh you know, there’s some pretty loud ones, but uh I think that comes with a lot of respect and just effort and and and different things. You know, I think that usually it’s the guys that are here for a while that get those chance. Usually takes a couple years for um those to come around, I I would guess. Um but uh for him have it this early, I think that’s exactly what being a Kuck is, honestly. And I think that’s what, you know, even myself, I need to be more uh conscious of. Yeah, I think 500 hits and a couple hatticks helps him, too. That that’ll help you pretty quick. Crazy. I don’t know how he gets those hits, so I don’t know who’s taking hits here. Uh, not that I hit a lot, but uh, you know, I know I hit at least once per game, but uh, he’s mastered getting five per game, but um, yeah, that that was just crazy. I mean, that’s something that, uh, good luck trying to beat that, you know, good luck trying to beat that. And also, he’s got he’s got a good scoring touch and, uh, he likes to make plays and I think for him, too, this is the best opportunity he’s gotten as a pro. Um, and he’s really taking it by by the storm. Kind of a perfect timing and uh, we need more of it, that’s for sure. I think he’s got nine already this year, so I mean, must be nice. Yeah, absolutely. No assists though. Yeah. No apples. Can’t have it all every day. No apples. Yeah. Was it the Sai Young? Yeah. Exactly. What do you What do you guys think? Like I don’t know just as as someone who’s watching the games, I see what he does on a shift sometimes. And I have to imagine like on the bench that that’s got to get you guys going like some of these shifts that even like a young guy coming in or you know Kefir is just such a good example of a guy who brings so much energy on that shift. What does it do for you guys at the bench? Like what are you guys talking about when you’re watching one of these like just crazy Kefir SH? I I’ve I honestly I laugh a lot. I I I think he’s pretty entertaining. Um and it’s kind of off stuff that’s not even on the play, but like kind of stuff that like only we kind of know and see, but um no, I mean there’s there’s I think the biggest thing is belief, right? You just believe he’s going to go get that puck. You just believe he’s going to go do that. And it’s like different guys on our team, you know, when it’s like guy like Brock has a shot in the slot, you pretty much know it’s automatically going in the net. Uh or a guy like Quinn like, you know, skating up or, you know, skating back or guys blocking shots, you there’s different ways you can kind of make it in the game, but his is obviously energy. So energy, I think energy is the easiest thing to see. That’s what something my dad used to always tell me was uh when you watch a game, no matter how good or bad you are, you can always tell who’s working the hardest or who’s going the fastest and and that’s uh that’s kind of the truth. Can you walk me through the short stick because when you got here, the first time I saw you on the ice at practice, I was like, oh, like thought there was a joke being pulled on there or something. Talk me through like the what the benefits are because there’s I’ve said this on the last episode, there’s a lot of kids that watch the show with their parents. I ask them like give us some advice for the kids out there. Maybe they want to try the short stick. What What works for you? Well, actually, it was out of necessity. I broke my hand uh my other one, my right hand, my top hand two years ago and like game 15 or something and I played the whole year with it and I couldn’t raise the puck for some reason. I just couldn’t get it with my stick that I had before and I noticed that when I kind of went down smaller and smaller, I can raise the puck in tight. Yeah. Um like literally I couldn’t really like my hand I couldn’t really do it. So I was like I had to figure out a way cuz I was playing I scored my first game after the broken hand. and it seoured me cuz then they thought I was fine. Uh but it’s it was broken. Uh it was and uh long story short that’s why it became smaller but then I liked how it was in front of the net. So the benefits of it for tips it’s pretty much like you got a racket you know you got a racket out there got a max blade so I can kind of get a piece of everything. Um and then also in tight and raising pucks and I thought for me uh when you’re in the battle it’s good for battles too cuz you have more center of gravity and it forces you to skate more. You have to lean more. You have to lean more forward. So those are the positives. Now, the negatives of it, you know, kind of outweigh the positives depending on how you’re playing and what the game is. If you’re playing a game where you’re penalty killing, uh, you can’t obviously can’t have a small stick out there. You you’re forchecking. If you’re not fast, if you’re not there on time, you’re probably not going to get pick, you know, a stick on it. We’re playing in the best league in the world. You’re not going to get somebody with a mini stick on a back check. So, you got to really move your feet. If I was trying to force myself to move more. Um, and I’ve actually this year I’ve started to go against it a little bit. Not much. I still I have a long way to go to catch other guys in terms of sticks but uh my hand is better now and uh I miss being goalies clean. I used to be goalies clean u you know three four times a year where just you know honestly snipes are you know good shots um and I haven’t had those in a while so I I kind of miss scoring those ones cuz you need those and um it changes the way that you play if you know you can’t really shoot from there you uh you try to score different ways. Yeah. Well, a way that you are scoring a lot is around the net. Like, and you mentioned that somewhere that you started, you know, as the 4 foot 11 kid who was playing against everyone who was six. I don’t know if I was that. I think I was listed at 5 foot zero, 120 lbs. My first ever BAM draft um weighin. That’s what I was uh listed at was uh 5 foot zero, 120 lbs. So, I was 15 or 14. I’m not sure. I forget what age, but that’s what I was. That’s what I was. I was at 5’5, 150. You know, you read a couple stats. Sorry, I didn’t. Right. No, I remember that all time. Even I remember playing football and you always added 2 in 40 pounds. Like you want the other team to look at the roster and be like, “Oh man, they got some hogs coming here.” Yeah, exactly. No, but like the the whole netfront presence. You developed it at a young age. Um, and you mentioned like your dad talking about effort. I feel like effort is the biggest thing around the net, right? Like you can have a lot of skill, but if you have no effort around the net, that’s to me that feels like the most important thing. When did you really like realize that? Was it as the 5 foot 155 kid that found that? Yeah, cuz I was always at a disadvantage. I mean, how do you get to the net if you got a, you know, someone that’s 50 lbs stronger than you probably doesn’t know exactly how to use it, but using his weight vice versa could be actually more harder um trying to keep you away from there. But I always felt like whenever I was around the around the net, sorry, no one really thought me as a threat. So, I always felt like I was open um for rebounds. But you’re right, it that’s what it is. It’s it’s, you know, like there’s effort, there’s competitiveness, everyone’s got different um things that you got to be either really good with your timing or really smart or you have to out compete somebody down there. And I feel like that’s kind of why the short stick helps too is cuz it’s right there and I’m kind of in the mix. It’s it’s not necessarily whack-a-ole where you’re just whacking it, but you also got to be a goalie. You got to understand where the tips are. You got to try to think about the rebounds after. And um you know, it’s a pretty simple position, but to be really good at it and then teams adjust, teams will be on you now. Teams will you know, obviously, as you said, 14 goals last year in the power play. You know, every time you do a pre-cout, we know who led their team in goals last year, who’s leading their team now. And uh so I know that there’s a guy there which should open someone else up. You know, that’s what you want honestly. If someone’s worried about the net front, there should be something else open. Um but it helps when you have a guy like Quinn at the top who can kind of sift everything through. Um I got to get better at that five on five this year especially. Uh just but that for me is timing. You’re getting back and there’s no use in standing in the net net front and taking 10 cross checks and the puck not arriving cuz then there’s nothing. You’re just taking abuse for no reason, right? But the job though. It comes with the job. The ironic part is the time you don’t do it, that’s when the puck arrives. So, you just got to keep uh you got to be patient with it. Um and then when you’re ready, um yeah, it’s just about honestly out competing. The for me being a smaller guy, I had to learn how guys sticks were in terms of where they like to put sticks. So, I always try to get into people’s hands um off rebounds, you know, on rebound ones. And then you have to have a little bit of patience on the rebounds cuz you just want to jam away and get it up. But, uh you have a little more time than you think. And um especially in this league too with goalies, how fast they are, you got to kind of put it in the right area. So you just take your extra little second and put it in. Yeah. Cuz I think of just like how different the angle is constantly changing when you’re in the net front, right? Like whether the puck’s moving or just a player is moving with it. And then on top of that, like let’s say a shot and you’re looking for a rebound, like you’re dealing with moving goalender every single time. So it’s like it’s so much it’s more than just like you said, just banging away at the network. It’s almost like a little bit of the dance you’re having. Yeah. I always look I always look at guys even like Carly like uh Carlson um he is underratedly really good. He doesn’t know how good he is in front of the net cuz he’s got a good read of that and he’s got a long reach, but he’s really good at that. And you know as a netront guy, you know, you know some guys are good down there. Some guys like to make plays, make dishes and I like to look at the guys that like to finish around there and he’s he’s a he’s a guy that’ll give me a run for my money here in a couple years. That’s for sure. I don’t want to tell him too much. Yeah. Well, and it’s it’s like man, I’ve watched him develop that over his time in the AHL. Like I remember when he came over from Sweden, he was the left half wall guy and it was onetime from the left half wall. Never saw him in front of the net and it was something that he just like really grew on at a sports. It’s been kind a cool one to watch develop and like you said like yeah get a chance to use that reach and everything. Um the power play though and you fitting into this group. What’s it like to jump into a power play group and especially when you arrive here and you get a chance to be PP1 and get that opportunity play with these guys who all have so much skill. Um how much do you enjoy being and getting a chance in that position? Yeah, you just try to do everything that you can to help. I mean, obviously I knew they had a pretty good power play when I first came here. Um, I actually got moved off the unit. I think it was in the bumper before. Um, but then I got put back on it. And, um, the second time it came back on, I just kind of was doing my thing. I mean, I just my my thing I more so meant be really good with recoveries, be really good with routes, and then also at the same point, bury everything in front of the net. Make it so they can’t take you off of it almost. But, um, obviously so much skill. You know, you got Pety with the onetime bomb. Brock’s unreal in the bumper. He scored so many those high tipped goals. um you know obviously with Gar now on the you know he he does his little little things all the time and but he’s he he shovels pucks in for me and um you know I think that at this point in the year with the condensed schedule and how tight games are obviously it’s going to be an emphasis but um you know I think with you know those I look at that as a great opportunity especially even last year and uh you know you just try to make the most of it obviously sometimes it’s ugly sometimes you you’re you know kills are kills are paid to stop it and there’s lots of guys that are good at it sometimes you’re in front of the net and there’s that comes and it looks like you’re not doing anything, but when the times are there, you have to be ready. You have to be consciously um looking for it. Um Quinn Quinn is hard to kind of reshoots, but uh I’ve noticed that at the beginning of last year, not necessarily well, just how fast he is and he’s it’s going different ways, right? Excuse me. Um but then, you know, you learn it. So, um you try to tell them what you like as a net front guy in terms of shots, but I always like when guys shoot to score because, you know, why would you go shoot for a tip if you have a chance to shoot and score? Like, if I miss it, then you’re scoring, you know? But I try to make it so I don’t mess. Everything, but um I make it hard, you know. Yeah. No, I I I did want to ask about another player. We we talked about a little bit before we started recording here. Uh with Tyler Myers, a guy who’s been here for a long time, you know, a father, a guy who’s like a leader in the room. What does he do in that locker room for this team? What does he bring to this group? A lot is stability, honestly. Um, you know, you always look you always look up to those guys that have been around for a while and I came from a older team in Boston and um, I feel like he fits the same kind of mold of what what that was like for for a young guy coming up and he’s always a guy you can talk to in confidence. He’s he’s uh, he’s got his routines. He’s such a good pro in that way. I mean, you don’t play thousand games without having certain things on on the on the menu for for him and um you know, I think it’s one of those things where he earns his respect in dayto day and um you know, guys root for him and uh he’s got a good sense of humor, too. I like making him laugh. Yeah. So, where this team’s at right now, you guys sit at seven and eight on the season. I’m just getting your thoughts like dealing with like seeing what the caden schedule is about, what like the how it can wear you down mentally, everything you guys are going through. What’s the focus of this group now sitting at seven and eight? Yeah, I think that’s a good that’s a good point. And you know, I think more so it’s mentality um than anything because um when you play in games this amount of games this fast, it’s kind of like a playoff schedule uh in some ways. Uh not necessarily even close to playoff intensity, but you’re playing every second day, you’re kind of going three and four, you’re constantly going, so you feel like you’re always at the rink. You feel like you’re always playing. And um some guys need a little bit of a weight time. Some guys need to get off the grid a little bit. Some guys need to play more, stay more in the game. But I think it’s a good lesson in terms of when you win a game, it’s reset. Yeah, another one coming up next day. It’s you lose a game, reset, win next one, next game. But it does get mentally fatiguing, especially if you’re struggling. I mean, especially if things aren’t going the way you want them to. For me personally, it’s been hard because it’s like you can’t escape it really. But at the same point, I’ve been through this before in my career and I usually, you know, it takes something like this for me to come out of it. But with the condensed schedule, it’s different because your body is more worn down and it’s about maintaining and so you have to adjust as time goes. It’s only been like you said, seven, we seven eight. I don’t know how many games that is. I’m not not a math guy, but uh there’s a lot of hockey left to be played, but um for me personally, it’s more so a matter of, you know, you look around the league, there’s a lot of one goal games, and I think that’s one of the main reasons why I’m here is to be the extra goal, and um you know, if you focus on just scoring, uh it’ll get you nowhere. This league will humble you. So, I just need to do other things that can help the team. Yeah. How do you look back at the first 15 games? Like, is there a big takeaway for for you or just as a team like is there anything that sticks out first 15 games of the season for you guys? Uh well obviously I think guys stepped up. I think that’s how that’s you know in terms of positivity. Lots of young guys came up the Abbeby line. Uh you know different guys coming in and out of the lineup defensively, offensively. Uh our goalending has been great. Um you know I think positively that’s how I look at it as we dealt with some adversity already. We’ve got hit with a hammer again. Um it seems like seems like last year and a bit it’s been been a lot but um and then guys are coming back and guys are energized. You see the guys come back with they’re flying around out there. They got speed. It’s like you know you’re not going through the you know we’re in the trenches here a little bit. Everyone is though and every team deals with it and no one’s gonna feel sorry for us and um I think it’s a good lesson for young guys to understand too um about how to react after wins and losses. Like I was saying earlier, you got you got to park it. You know, you got to park it. If it’s great, you have, you know, two point three-point night, awesome, but then the next game it’s like a completely different type of thing. So, um I think it’s good for uh even like a guy like Braden um like um to get some games in in obviously in the schedule like this, but um obviously not where we want to be. I mean, in fairness, um, you know, we have different expectations. I had different personal expectations. Um, but what can you really do? You got a game tomorrow anyway. So, it’s like, you know, you you go on, you just got to try to, uh, improve and try to get those wins. And obviously, we got to make playing at home. I think that’s something that since I’ve been here, um, we got to get stronger. I think we have to have a better record here and obviously give the fans more to cheer about. That’s what the that’s the best case scenario. But, we need to make this a hard place to play in in terms of where we’re getting points pretty much every single night. Yeah. Well, I look at it as like I’m curious to get it from a players perspective. Like what do you think just like a little win streak would do to this team right now? Just getting on a streak, right? I totally agree on a personal and on a a team level. I think that and it’s hard. It’s hard when you have that many games and you it seems like every single situation you’re coming into, you’re playing against a team that lost two in a row. You’re playing against a team because it’s so tight, right? Um usually you can kind of get on a swing of a team’s kind of going down, but um that’s what this game is. That’s what you want to be a part of. It’s competitive. It’s it’s tight and um I think that that would go a long way. Obviously, even just get a couple going. It but it always starts with one. You got to get the first one first and then you go from the second and third and and that’s when you start building momentum. And I think in a season like this, momentum is the biggest thing. Momentum gets killed with injuries, gets killed with losses, gets killed different things, but momentum is if you have momentum, you can you look at the leaders in stats, the leaders in the league, it’s like they haven’t lost the game regulation. like cuz they’re rolling cuz they got momentum. They’re on a roll. They’ll have their day, you know, cuz and it’s like if you have a good month, it’s it looks good. So, um but I think that starts here at home. Obviously didn’t like how the game went against Chicago. No, no one did. Um but you move on and we got another one. We had a chance to get it back. Yeah. Well, right back into another back to back. Right back into Yeah, we got back to back this week. Yeah, exactly. Was it three and four again? Don’t stop, man. We’ll get used to it. You know what I mean? And then we have to Well, the trade-off is the Olympics and that’s going to be super exciting to watch. So, um, but yeah, it’s, uh, it’s different and out my years as a pro, it kind of reminds me of the co season, weirdly, just in terms of feels like you’re playing every kind of the schedule’s a little bit different, but, um, you know, it’s nice to have the fans this time around. Yeah, that’s a lot better for sure. U, let’s get into some speed round questions here to wrap up. Um, if you, if all your teammates were on a trivia show, what would be your one subject that you would be the best at? Like they would call like this is the, you know, the board on Jeopardy and they say we got to put Jake up there. Well, I want to say one. Um, I’ll give you two. Speed round. Sorry. Speed round probably uh sports, honestly. Um, and you know sports better than anyone else in the room, you think? Maybe not rats. Rats with Rat R2 or two Ratos actually. He knows everything. Uh, but I would say uh movies. Sorry. Movies and Pokemon. Those are the two. Movies and Pokemon. Quotes and Pokemon. Yeah. Okay. So, what’s your favorite Pokemon movie if we can combine the two? I actually I hate to say this. I’ve actually never seen the movie. Uh, I’ve seen highlights of it. I’ve seen some of the battles, but uh probably when Charizard comes around. I think there’s one where he kind of saves the day. I think that one’s probably evolves. Yeah, it’s a big one. He gets pissed off there. He wants to fight him. Yeah, like that’s pretty he that’s pretty intense, you know. I think it’s one where he comes. Yeah, I was I don’t know. I watched a thing on YouTube about it actually cuz I was like, I wonder what it was like, you know, the movie about. But yeah, it’s pretty cool. Yeah, I forget the episode. I think it was Brock and he had his Magmar. Magmar was really strong and he needed to to get to that next level. It was good. I watched it all. Like I got a three-month old and I remember like the first first like nights when he’s up all night like we was to roll through like 70 episodes, watch a few of the movies. Like they’re all on YouTube now. It’s nice. It’s like a Pokemon TV thing. Watch it right there. It’s changed a lot. Yeah. I actually watch more uh Yu-Gi-Oh growing up weirdly. I was more of a Yu-Gi-Oh guy actually growing up. So I don’t remember uh most of it, but I mean it’s hard to say that when uh you’re a fan, you know. Yeah. Well, I think we’re pretty close to the same age. So like I remember like the Yu-Gi-Oh sat I thought the story was incredible with Yu-Gi-Oh. Insane. Insane. Yeah. I always remember watching that and and then you kind of as you grow up you go Nickelodeon and uh I don’t know what the other one was but you watch different shows channels. Yeah. Family channel. Yeah. Yeah. Those are the two you flop me and my sister would flop through. Um so those kind of went away but it’s funny that all these years later we’re back into it I guess. Right. Yeah. It’s just trying to be a kid again, right? Yeah. Exactly. That’s kind of the point. Uh favorite nonhockey athlete. Do you have one that sticks out? Like was it growing up or nowadays? Like do you have either or? Uh I never saw him play um live really. I mean, well, I mean, no, I never saw him play, so I guess it would be previous, but um, Michael Jordan, I mean, he he’s the goat. Sorry, LeBron fans. 6 and0, six MVPs. That’s all I need to say. Um, but I just loved his intensity and also like just the way he played. Um, I’d love to see what he’d be like nowadays if he grew up nowadays and played, but I loved his killer instinct. That guy was a definition of killer. Um, if I had to bet my life on someone making shot, it’d be MJ. So, that’s my favorite player. Love it. Um, if you were to do three weeks through the Mediterranean, one teammate has to join. You guys have to have the most fun possible. Who Who’s your teammate? One teammate. Probably the most fun ever. Um, who would I have the most fun with? I’d love to say Woody on this one. Yeah, I’d probably say Woody or Forby. Woody or Forby. Um, probably the top two I’d probably go with. Yeah. Okay. Um, and while you’re on that Mediterranean trip, lots of gelato on there, lots of good ice cream. Let’s say, what’s the favorite ice cream flavor? Favorite ice cream flavor of mine is probably uh I actually have a weird one. Uh well, not gelato, but it was uh raspberry sorbet hogen. I don’t know why, but that thing I I can’t find it. You can’t Good luck finding that cuz I think I went through all the tubs. It was I just that gets me so much for some reason. And then I cannot go with like, you know, cookies and cream or Oreos or um you know, some sort of flavor like that. Vanilla is pretty basic, but like you know, pretty consistent. Good vanilla is Good. Vanilla is good. Yeah. Vanilla bean or something, you know. Okay. Well, if you find the raspberry sorbet, you’re getting a puck at the game. So, bring that toss that over the Seriously, I’ll grab that any day. I uh I used to love that. Yeah, I used to love that. I don’t know. I haven’t had it in years, though. I haven’t been able to find it. We’re in the month of November now. Um if you could force a player to grow a mustache and keep it for the rest of the season, who do you think would be a good one? Quinn to watch a mustache. To see what it look like. Yeah. I don’t know if he has facial hair really, but uh he has got a little bit of round, but I would say like a good mustache. Yeah. Uh Quinn or uh Yeah. No, we’ll just go Quinn. I just like to see what he’d look like. Have you ever done it? Like have you ever really I’ve done it. Yeah, pretty hard. I actually did a goatee me and uh Charlie Makavoy rookie years roommates. And I was shaving my face cuz I have, you know, I get facial hair obviously. And as a joke, I like showed him. I was like, “Hey, does this look good for November?” And he loved it so much. He didn’t have much at the time that he did it and I actually scored in the game. Um but then I got really cold. But then I just went to the mustache. Then I just shaved the mustache. Yeah. I I I I I just didn’t even think of it actually. Uh that’s on me. Yeah. Okay. With the new like you guys don’t have to wear suits to every game now. I’m curious like but I’ve seen you in a suit in some of the walk. How do you choose? Am I going casual today or am I going suit today? How do you just go with the vibe or how do you decide? Go with the vibe. Yeah. I mean I didn’t know it was this year. I thought it was next year. Um but I have to update my whole um wardrobe now. Like the whole thing. Um not that it’s bad, just a little outdated. I used to actually I wish this happened probably four or five years ago. I actually had pretty good style back then. Uh, but I still have those same clothes. So, it’s kind of like, you know, it’s kind of weird. But, um, I just kind of go off what I feel. You know, if I Well, and laundry to be honest, if you’re running out of clothes, if you run out of clothes, I got all these suits I can use. So, I just put a suit on. So, if I have a suit, it’s probably because laundry. Okay, good to know. Last question and it’s a tough one. What is your favorite smell in all the world? Favorite smell? Weirdly, uh, walking into arena. Popcorn. popcorn or like uh I don’t know if that makes any sense. I love smelling like movie theater popcorn. You gave me a whiff of that. Um that’s probably up there. And then probably Yeah, I’d go with movie popcorn as my favorite smell. I don’t even know if it has a distinct one, but like you know when you walk into an arena and you just have like kind of like that game day smell that makes sense. You know, like you get it here like it’s usually around game day like time though. Like you know you come in early, it’s whatever, but you kind of get a whiff of it during the game. But that for me always, you know, when events going on, it kind of triggers me to like know something’s happening. And then movies pop, I just think of uh Yeah. movies. Yeah. I remember like I played baseball and like the first step off the bus and you get like the grilled onion smell in the air. That might be what it is I’m thinking about. I’m trying to I was trying to Yeah, it might be just like the grilled like hot dog or something, but um I don’t know why I said popcorn, but yeah. No, that is that’s like that’s when you know you’re at the game. That’s when you know you’re at the ballpark. You know what I mean? Well, you miss our producer with the eucalyptus lavender. That was the call before. That was a little much for me. I’m like I’m staying onions. When I get sick, I got one of those sage things. Shout out to Sage. And but I one of those things I just like sniff on there. I’m just like clear me up. We’ll wrap it up on shout out to Sage. So Jake, thanks so much for joining us here in the pod. Uh, and we’ll do this again down the road. Maybe it’ll be your hidden podcast. We’ll figure that out later down the road. Yeah, maybe I’ll have you as a guest. Yeah. Thanks for having me, man. Absolutely.

Jake DeBrusk discusses his second season with the #Canucks, playing in a Canadian market, before firing through a speed round of questions!

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