Another Team interested in trading for Alex DeBrincat..
With the Blackhawks hope of having a first round pick falling out of the picture with the Wild being eliminated in the first round, General Manager Kyle Davidson has since stated he still has an interest in obtaining a first round pick for this years NHL Entry Draft.
Shortly after the Draft Lottery General Manger of the Ottawa Senators Pierre Dorion stated he is considering packaging their first round pick, which is 7th overall, for a controllable elite level talent. This had led to the rumor mill and speculation starting to run its course online and one name that keeps coming up is Alex DeBrincat.
With the Blackhawks beginning their rebuild this summer, and Ottawa hoping to finish theirs this might be as far fetched as some trade rumors go. DeBrincat is entering the last year of his current contract at $6.4 mill and will eligible for extension this summer, but would still be a restricted free agent if a deal is not struck by next summer. He is almost certainly going to get a hefty pay raise coming off of a season where he was not only an NHL All-Star but recorded a career high 78 points in 82 games as well as tying his career high in goals with 41. You can certainly see why Ottawa would be interested in adding a skilled scorer like DeBrincat but what would it take for the Hawks to part ways with him?
Before everyone starts freaking out, this does not mean that Davidson is actively shopping the budding superstar, but where does he fit in the timeline for the new rebuild? He will be 25 early into this season and a fast rebuild in hockey is 5 years but could easily end up being 10 years if things don't work out. Would DeBrincat want to spend at least the next 5 years on a team with no signs of contending for a cup? Would Davidson want to waste 5 years of an elite goal scorer on a rebuilding team? DeBrincat would certainly fetch the highest return of any of the rumored names to be leaving the team, given his age, ability, and contract control. Meanwhile Ottawa has stockpiled an abundance of assets, prospects, and young talent during their rebuild by moving some of their elite level talents like Mark Stone and Erik Karlsson.
What might it take to pry DeBrincat away from the Hawks? Lets get into some names and assets that have been floated around as possible pieces of the return package.
The first being the 7th overall pick.
While this isn't being touted as highly as the 2023 draft featuring the next "Next One" in Connor Bedard, there are certainly some intriguing prospects that could be around at 7.
Joakim Kemell: Winger, Righthanded Shot, 5'11", 176lbs.
Kemell is expected to go in the 5-10 range which means he's a possibility here at 7. The Finnish winger possesses high level skill, creativity with the puck to create separation from defenders, has an elite shot, and is regarded as one of the more entertaining players to watch in this years draft.
Brad Lambert: Forward, Righthanded Shot, 6'0", 179lbs.
Lambert is capable of playing both at center and the wing, and projected to go inside of the top 10 before struggling to put up numbers in his first year playing against grown men in the Finnish Elite League. Many scouts still believe his natural talent and skill will land him inside of the top 10. Regarded as a dynamic offense threat given his high level speed and skating ability, elite hands, and offensive instincts many believe when fully developed Lambert could be a dynamic player in the league. Often described as dangerous with the puck when given time and space Lambert could be someone the Hawks have their eye on should they make this trade.
There's also always the possibility of a future first rounder being a part of this package but lets get into some prospects that could be heading the Hawks way should this trade ever come to fruition.
The biggest name and by far most exciting possible return would be 19 year - old defenseman Jake Sanderson. While the Hawks prospect pool is realistically only deep on defense, none of their current prospects have a ceiling as high as Sanderson's is projected to be. Sanderson was the 5th overall pick in 2020, having just signed his entry level contract this spring after finishing two years playing for the University of North Dakota. During his time there the left handed shot Sanderson racked up 41 points in 43 games, as well as appearing in two World Junior Championships for Team USA bringing home gold one and was the captain in the other. He also was a member of Team USA at this past years Olympic Games where he recorded 1 assist in his only game played. Coming in at 6'2" 190lbs Sanderson is regarded as a dynamic two-way defenseman with great skating ability, high level offensive and defensive instincts, paired with a quick wrister and disciplined physicality. He would almost certainly become the Hawks top prospect and possibly give Davidson the chance to right Bowman's wrong in passing on the highly touted defenseman Bowen Byram. If Sanderson is someone the Senators are willing to let go for DeBrincat, then Davidson certainly has a tough decision on his hands, as this would give the Hawks a new top pairing of Sanderson and Jones for him to rebuild around.
Two other possible prospects that could be a part of this package are last years 10th overall pick power forward winger Tyler Boucher and former 2019 second round pick two-way center Shane Pinto.
At 19 years old and 6'1" 205lbs ,Boucher is a physical winger who brings a crafty right handed shot with a nose for getting to the net and into the dirty areas, and plenty of bone crushing hits into the boards.
Where as Pinto, who is actually a former teammate of Sanderson's at North Dakota, he brings a strong two-way game at the center position as well as a scoring touch having racked up 60 points in 61 games while playing for North Dakota. Bad luck with injuries have derailed the start to his NHL having only played in 5 games this season do to need surgery on his right shoulder.
While the majority of this is all rumors and speculation, there's certainly to see why both teams could be interested in pulling off a trade here. While fans would certainly not like to see DeBrincat go, if Davidson is offered a package containing this years first, Sanderson, and more it would be hard for him to turn down knowing this could be the haul that kickstarts his rebuild.
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and participate in the poll below on if a trade between these two teams would make sense or if you think its just more internet rumors!
| POLL | ||
Would you be willing to let The Cat go for a haul like this? | ||
| NOO WE NEED HIM! | 94 | 47 % |
| Yes, it stings but helps the team long term. | 51 | 25.5 % |
| Yes, can't risk him wanting out down the road. | 16 | 8 % |
| Yes but only if its EVERYTHING listed above! | 39 | 19.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
