Bruce Cassidy responds to questions about Jake DeBrusk's trade request.

The Boston Bruins have started off the new year about as well as they could have hoped for but there is still one dark cloud hanging over the franchise's proverbial head, the issue surrounding the discontent of veteran forward Jake DeBrusk.

After a huge sophomore season with the Bruins in which he recorded 27 goals and 15 assists for 42 points over 68 games, DeBrusk's numbers have steadily declined season after season and it would appear that he feels the Bruins are at least partially to blame for that trend. Recently news broke that revealed DeBrusk had requested a trade out of Boston and rather than attempt to deny or downplay the situation Bruins general manager Don Sweeney addressed the media the day after the story broke and confirmed that DeBrusk had indeed made the request.

The Bruins have reportedly been open to a trade but are seeking a player of equal value in return for DeBrusk, and as of the time of this writing a trade has yet to materialize. Obviously the sense of urgency for the Bruins is now almost non-existent given their recent run of success on the ice, and it is perhaps for that reason that over the weekend head coach Bruce Cassidy was asked to provide an update on DeBrusk's trade demands.

Cassidy was asked, perhaps due to the Bruins recent form, if DeBrusk had changed his mind about wanting out of Boston. Unfortunately for fans hoping to see DeBrusk remain in black and gold, there was no indication from Cassidy that this was indeed the case.

"I don’t know if he’s changed his mind," said Bruce Cassidy on Sunday. "That’s a question better served by other people. He hasn’t said that to me at all."

DeBrusk is certainly not doing himself any favors, on pace for arguably the worst offensive season of his NHL career with 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points over his 30 games played this season, and you can hardly blame the Bruins for being patient when it comes to getting a reasonable return on their 25 year old winger.

Cassidy downplayed DeBrusk's struggles this season arguing that the forward has 'had some looks', but he also made it clear that he feels DeBrusk needs to keep working at it.

"So you’ve got to stay with it, bear down, continue to do the things you need to do and hit the net when you get chances," said Cassidy.

Whether or not that will happen while he remains a Bruin is as of yet unknown.