Last season was not always fun for Jake DeBrusk, but the Bruins prospect believes he will be better off for his travails.

DeBrusk, the 14th overall pick in the 2015 draft who will be in his second development camp starting today, saw his goal scoring drop off precipitously last season, raising the eyebrows of prospect-watchers. The winger also was traded for the first time, and he suffered an injury that makes most men shudder.

DeBrusk went from 42 goals in 72 games with Swift Current in his draft year to 21 goals in 61 games between Swift Current and Red Deer of the Western Hockey League. However, he believes his all-around game did improve through his ups and downs.

“I think I just got better in my defensive zone and defensive awareness,” said DeBrusk yesterday as he strolled down Newbury Street. “I was used on the penalty kill and in all situations. On Swift Current, I played all three (forward) positions in the game and I played around 30 minutes a game, and that’s really good for the development and for me to learn different parts of the game. I’d be going up against top lines every single night and top defense pairings. It was a big learning curve, and I felt it got better as it went along.”

DeBrusk had a strong playoff run for Red Deer. He posted 8-9-17 totals in 17 games that culminated with a berth in the Memorial Cup.

“I felt good,” said the 6-foot, 180-pound DeBrusk. “The playoffs are do-or-die. There’s a lot of pressure, especially in that first round. You don’t want to be taken out early. We got knocked out by the champs (London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League) and that’s the way it went, but I felt personally that it went well and got better as the series went on. Those games are the ones I love to play, those do-or-die games. I felt I was producing offensively and playing well defensively.”

The season ended well for DeBrusk. The same could not be said for the start. In the 14th game of the season, he blocked a slap shot in the most sensitive of areas, shall we say, the lower midsection. Surgery was required.

“Yeah, it was pretty inflamed, to say the least. The puck pretty much hit square on,” said DeBrusk with a rueful chuckle. “It’s funny. Every time I tell the story everyone just cringes, especially if you’re a guy. The only thing bad about the injury now is remembering the amount of pain I was in. It was brutal. I couldn’t even stand up. It’s something I wish no one has to go through, that’s for sure.”

The prospects checked in yesterday and, after a free afternoon, had a team meal last night. After a 4 a.m. wake-up call this morning, the players go to fitness testing before the first on-ice session at Ristuccia Arena.

DeBrusk hopes to redeem himself from last year when he and fellow first-round picks defenseman Jakub Zboril and forward Zach Senyshyn all failed the test.

“The only problem with playing in the Memorial Cup is I’ve only had about three weeks (of training) or so, while some guys have been training for over a month,” DeBrusk said. “We’ll find out (today) but I think I’m ready.”

DeBrusk, a natural left winger, will turn 20 on Oct. 17 and is eligible to play in the AHL, if he doesn’t make the Bruins. Ahead of him on the depth chart are Brad Marchand, Matt Beleskey and Frank Vatrano.

DeBrusk believes he can force his way onto the roster. Stranger things have happened. Few observers would have predicted that Vatrano would play any meaningful games in the NHL last year.

“I think everyone honestly has a shot,” DeBrusk said. “They’re always making moves and transactions. It’s going to be a tough team to crack. It’s the best league in the world.

“But you’ve got to believe you can do it. If you don’t, who will? You have to aim high. That’s what I’m thinking of every day in the gym.”