Sens a Good Trade Partner for DeBrincat

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James
June 24, 2022 (0:06)

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The writing is unfortunately on the wall. Alex DeBrincat has likely played his last game as a Chicago Blackhawk. The Athletic�s Pierre LeBrun revealed that to acquire DeBrincat, teams would have to send a young player, high draft picks and top prospects.

So who are the teams that fit that bill and are willing to pay that hefty price tag? The Ottawa Senators have made it known they are willing to move the 7th overall pick for an impact player.

Any DeBrincat deal needs to start with 22-year-old Alex Formenton who got his first real opportunity last season and put up 32 points (18 goals) in 79 games, a goal total that ranked fourth on the Senators. Formenton's speed is his best asset, and he got to show it off on the penalty kill. He averaged just under 2 minutes of short-handed ice time per game, on a penalty kill that ranked 13th in the NHL. He's also not afraid to drop the gloves.

Formenton looks like he could be a long-term asset, providing valuable goal-scoring, speed and special-teams ability. He is a restricted free agent this summer and was only a $747,000 cap hit this season. I could see him being signed to a long-term deal worth around $3.5-4 mil per year after the trade.

Another piece that the Hawks should look to acquire is 19-year-old left wing Ridly Greig whose 1.62 points per game ranked him third in the Western Hockey League this season, just ahead of wunderkind Connor Bedard. He only played 39 games, but recorded a stout 63 points. His motor is relentless and he is a wrecking ball physically despite his average size (6'0").

Greig's combination of speed and grit could make him a solid middle-six forward who can play in all situations. He could be a player who Chicago fans love and is hated by fans of the other teams in the league. Sound like something that has been missing for quite a while? He's drawn Brad Marchand comparisons.

A player that the Hawks should look at with the seventh pick is 17-year-old Jonathan Lekkerimäki, a center from the Swedish Hockey League who is one of the best shooters in the draft class. He has incredible vision, excels at finding the open ice and releasing his strong and accurate shot.

While playing for the Swedish U18 international team in 2021-22, he scored five goals and 10 assists in six games. Averaging roughly three points per game in a tournament is no easy feat, but it seemed to come naturally for the youngster.

So Formenton, Greig and the 7th overall pick for the Cat? As difficult as it would be to see a player of DeBrincat's caliber depart, that's quite a haul for a guy who will be a restricted free agent next season due probably $9-10 mil per season. Not to mention, it brings much-needed speed to the Windy City.