The 2022 NHL Draft has been an interesting one for the Ottawa Senators. In an effort to get themselves back into the playoff conversation, the team moved the seventh pick in the draft, along with a second-round pick that year and a third-round pick in 2024 to acquire Alex DeBrincat, who had scored 41 goals. Chicago Blackhawks season.
The following season was again disappointing for the team as it missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. The newly acquired winger still did his job, scoring a respectable 66 points in 82 games. However, Sens could be in the same position as last year – but in a reversed role.
Per Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, DeBrincat could be moved back in the draft due to contract negotiations It does not progress well between the two parties.
DeBrincat is set to become a restricted free agent (RFA) this summer, which means any team that acquires him can keep his rights. The catch is that he deserves a qualifying offer of $9 million in his contract. While that’s a lot of money to commit to one player, the former second-round pick has the tools to be an offensive threat to any team.
With this in mind, what teams would benefit most from adding the two-time 40-goal scorer if contract negotiations with the Senators don’t work out?
Detroit Red Wings
The third-greatest franchise in NHL history has been looking to get back on top after missing the playoffs every year since the 2016-17 season, which marked the end of their 25-year playoff streak. Despite missing the playoffs again in 2022-23, the Detroit Red Wings are headed in a good direction after finishing the season with 80 points, their highest total in the past seven years.
Related: Analysis of the Red Wings’ Organizational Depth Trend to 2023-24
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With interdivisional teams like the Buffalo Sabers and even the Senators moving forward this year, is it time for General Manager Steve Yzerman to do a great job? Can he look forward to acquiring DeBrincat, who was born in nearby Farmington Hills?
Yzerman has all the makings to make a big move and put his team on a competitive footing. They’re expected to have more than $30 million in space available next year, with Pius Suter and a few players who need contracts. Aside from the impressive group of young players, the team also has five picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft.
Adding a two-time 40-goal scorer to centre-forwards including captain Dylan Larkin and sophomore Lucas Raymond will certainly benefit the Red Wings, who finished the season 24th in the goals-per-game category.
St. Louis Blues
One year after finishing ninth in the league with a solid list of nine different scorers with 20 goals, the St. Louis Blues finished 23rd in the league to miss the playoffs for only the second time in 12 seasons.
As a result, the Blues decided to retool mid-season by trading in key players such as veterans Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly, as well as acquiring younger players. With a decent squad already on the cards, they are expected to make some moves in the off-season to become competitive again.
Unlike the Red Wings, the Blues will have to get more creative if they want to acquire DeBrincat. The team has just under $7 million in cap space next season, with only a backup goaltender and maybe a player or two in need of re-signing. That wouldn’t be enough to sign DeBrincat to his qualifying offer.
However, the Blues could re-evaluate their core, which it was criticized by their own coach Mid season for lack of effort. Perhaps they could look to swap a list player in a deal for the 25-year-old winger. The Blues currently have a total of three first-round picks in this year’s draft. They certainly have the assets to make a move, but it depends on their needs and goals.
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a long shot as DeBrincat’s touchdown spot. But even though the chances are slim, it’s exciting to imagine adding him to the lineup.
Similar to the Blues, the Flames finished near the top of the league in 2021-22, but failed to replicate their success this season. Their summer took a turn for the worse when Johnny Goudreau and Matthew Tkachuk left via free agency and trade, respectively. The Flames are still doing their best with the acquisition of Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, as well as clearing Sean Monahan’s contract to make way for the signing of Nazem Kadri.
This season, one of the Flames’ major problems has come in leading the league with 17 overtime losses (From “Spiking Overtime Losses Kill Flames Game Hopes,” Available here. Calgary Sun3/15/23). In other words, they were not able to take advantage of the opportunities in the most crucial moments. Losing extra points in this way makes it more difficult for any team to qualify for the playoffs. At such moments, the Flames could use a young player to raise an aging core. A player like DeBrincat.
If the Flames wanted to do a business, they would need to transfer roster players and/or empty cap space. Although they don’t need to sign any major players next season, they only have just over $1 million in cap space next season. Milan Lucic’s contract is canceled, but Huberdeau and Weegar contract extensions begin.
Ultimately, DeBrincat is unlikely to join the Flames. They must be creative and certainly hesitate to trade their two best prospects in Jakob Pelletier and Matthew Coronato. However, it might be interesting to see the approach that interim general manager Don Maloney takes during the draft and in the off-season.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, any team would be happy to add a young talent like DeBrincat to their roster. This includes senators, who still have the option to keep him. The salary cap and eligible offer are obstacles for many potential suitors, but recent years have taught us that anything can happen in the draft.