The Ottawa Senators have traded forward Alex DeBrincat to the Detroit Red Wings in a blockbuster deal. In return, the Senators received winger Dominik Kubalik, defense prospect Donovan Sebrango, a conditional 2024 first-round pick, and a 2024 fourth-round pick. DeBrincat, a Farmington Hills native, has signed a four-year contract extension with the Red Wings worth $7.875 million annually.
Trade Alert! The #Sens have acquired forward, Dominik Kubalík, defenceman, Donovan Sebrango, a conditional first-round draft pick in '24 and a fourth-round draft pick in '24 from the Detroit Red Wings, in exchange for forward, Alex DeBrincat. pic.twitter.com/50qRoouRiK
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) July 10, 2023
DeBrincat, who turns 26 in December, is a two-time 41-goal scorer, most recently in the 2021-22 season, his final with the Chicago Blackhawks. In the 2022-23 season, DeBrincat scored 27 goals and had 39 assists, totaling 66 points. Despite his small stature at 5’7″, DeBrincat has blossomed into one of the NHL’s top goal-scorers.
The trade comes after DeBrincat’s agent, Jeff Jackson, denied reports that their camp’s contract demands were holding up a trade, stating that they were waiting patiently for a trade to happen. According to The Athletic, there is no “bad guy” in this trade, as both teams benefit from the deal.
In a recent tweet by Bruce Garrioch, a Postmedia hockey columnist who has covered the Senators since Day 1, it was revealed that Alex DeBrincat had no intention of signing with Ottawa.
Speaking to Detroit reporters this morning, Alex DeBrincat said he had no intention of signing in Ottawa. "We spent a year there and we just didn't really have enough time to think about signing long-term there. I think there were probably better fits out there for me." #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) July 10, 2023
Speaking to Detroit reporters, DeBrincat made it clear that his preference was to play elsewhere, which may have contributed to the trade negotiations between the Senators and the Red Wings. This revelation adds another layer of intrigue to the blockbuster trade, as it suggests that DeBrincat’s desire to play for his hometown team may have played a significant role in the deal’s completion.
DeBrincat will join a Red Wings team that includes other Michigan-born players, and he has expressed excitement about playing for his hometown team. Red Wings legend Pavel Datsyuk was one of DeBrincat’s favorite players growing up, and now he has the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.
The trade has been met with mixed reactions, with some analysts declaring the Red Wings as the winners of the deal, while others argue that the Senators are not exactly losers. Senators GM Pierre Dorion has expressed confidence in DeBrincat’s ability to score between 40 and 50 goals, whether he plays for Ottawa or another team.
As one of the shortest NHL players in 2023, DeBrincat has proven that size is not a barrier to success in the league. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how DeBrincat’s career unfolds with the Detroit Red Wings.