NHL Insider confirms Hawks are testing the market on young Super Star.
Over the weekend NHL insider Elliot Friedman announced the Blackhawks are testing the market on every player on the team outside of those with No Movement Clauses (NMC). The only three players on the team with a NMC are Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Seth Jones. Which means budding super star, Alex DeBrincat, is one of the names they are listening to offers for. Before losing your mind, this does not mean Kyle Davidson is actively trying to get rid of the dynamic winger. It is no secret the Blackhawks draft capital has taken a hit over the years resulting in a pretty lack luster prospect pool and moving DeBrincat could restock the farm pretty quickly. While some may argue that DeBrincat is the level of player you'd hope for in a first round pick or a high end prospect, trading him gives the chance to bring in multiple high end talents with the haul he would bring back.
There is also no guarantee Alex DeBrincat would want to spend his prime on a rebuilding team. While he may be saying all the right things in press conferences, losing takes a toll on elite players and this team is headed towards some seasons with a ton of losing as expected in a rebuild. Take into account he could be losing two players he enjoys playing with over the next year in Dylan Strome this summer, and Patrick Kane possibly next summer or earlier, and the Cat might not have a reason to stay outside of a huge contract (which he could fetch anywhere else in the league). DeBrincat would also bring in the largest return of any player on the roster given his high level goal scoring and offensive production paired with his age and RFA status next summer.
Now the real question is which teams would be most interested in trading for Alex DeBrincat?
Carolina Hurricanes
After getting knocked out in the second round of the playoffs due to lack of offensive performance on the road, the Hurricanes are one team that should giving Davidson a call on what it would take to pry DeBrincat away. His age fits nicely with their core of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Teuvo Teräväinen, and Jaccob Slavin; and the Cat would add that dynamic goal scoring touch they needed this playoffs. Possible returns include future first round picks or prospects since they are unlikely to include rookie forward Seth Jarvis. Some possible prospects include skilled center Ryan Suzuki, right handed defenseman Scott Morrow, but the two most intriguing are talented wingers in former second round picks. The first being 18 year - old Ville Koivunen, a pure skilled offensive talent currently playing in the Finnish Elite League where he recorded 29 points in 53 games as rookie playing against grown men. Koivunen wants to be a game breaker and his desire to have the puck on his stick could inject some life into an unstocked Blackhawks prospect pool. The second being 20 year - old winger Noel Gunler who record 23 points in 53 games in the SHL before moving to the Chicago Wolves to end the season with 5 points in 11 games.
Detroit Redwings
Fans might freak out if this were to happen as some still believe the rivalry exists, despite only playing each-other twice a year, but Detroit has an abundance of prospects that could be used to bring DeBrincat to his hometown team. Bringing in the Cat would give the Redwings a budding superstar to pair with their already dynamic young core as they continue their accession from the basement of the league. On top of having this years 8th overall pick, the Redwings also have one of the best prospect pools in the league. Headlined by stellar young two-way defenseman Simon Edvinsson. The 18 year - old former 6th overall pick is a left handed shot dman who stands at 6'5" and boasts elite skating and puck control as well as a frame built to shut down the opposition. The other headliner of their prospect pool is a name many speculated the Blackhawks would draft last summer (before former GM Stan Bowman leveraged the future trying to save his job) in 6'6" goaltender Sebastian Cossa. Cossa is a huge goalie with incredible athletic ability when it comes to making saves and is already being compared as Steve Yzerman's next Andrei Vasilevskiy. At 19 years - old, Cossa's development could time out perfectly as being NHL ready when the Hawks are starting to finish their rebuild and give them an elite presence in net for many years to come. Both of these prospects would immediately catapult their way to the top of the Blackhawk's prospect pool and the chance at landing either if not both in a package for DeBrincat could easily be worth it in Davidson's eyes.
Anaheim Ducks
This one is a bit of a dark horse candidate, but given their prospect pool and the emergence of Trevor Zegras, the Ducks could view DeBrincat as Zegras's perfect running mate for the future. As for a possible return package the Ducks have this years 10th overall pick and a loaded prospect pool. The biggest name is last years 3rd overall pick center Mason McTavish. At 6'1" and 207lbs, McTavish brings a solid frame to supplement his power forward two - way style of hockey. He has a knack for finishing in tight and size to bull doze his way to the front of the net he could be a center piece for the Hawks to start their rebuild around.
Another possible team interested in trading for DeBrincat, that I have
already covered is the Ottawa Senators and what could look like can be found here:
https://www.hawksinsider.com/Another-Team-interested-in-trading-for-Alex-DeBrincat-129617?fbclid=IwAR2ceA0r7i-FWBHyRFVZJexuqZaeB0GNP9rhylxH49skRblzYc7Cvn9_Q5E
There is certainly going to be tons of attention around DeBrincat over the summer and into next season, but which team does he fit best on? Which return would be the best for the rebuild? Feel free to let me know in the comments and by participating in the poll!
| POLL | ||
What would DeBrincat fit the best with? | ||
| Carolina they need a scorer! | 17 | 32.1 % |
| Detroit let him go back home! | 15 | 28.3 % |
| The Ducks, let him and Zegras make them mighty! | 8 | 15.1 % |
| Chicago, he needs to waste his prime in a rebuild! | 13 | 24.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
