The Chicago Blackhawks have pulled off a blockbuster.
In a move that cements the organization’s intent for a full-scale rebuild, the Blackhawks dealt star winger Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night in exchange for the seventh overall pick in the 2022 draft, the 39th overall pick in the 2022 draft, and a 2024 third-rounder.
DeBrincat is one of the better players to be traded in the past five years, period. The 24-year-old already has two 40-goal seasons under his belt including the 41 he scored this past season, along with 37 assists and 78 points he racked up in 82 games.
With one more year left on his current deal at a reasonable $6.4 million, DeBrincat would be an immensely valuable asset even if he wasn’t set to remain under team control as a restricted free agent after his contract expires.
That combination of elite production and asset value is responsible for the absolute haul that the Blackhawks just got from the Senators in exchange for their young sniper that will likely help kickstart the rebuild that is to come.
The Senators, on the other hand, don’t seem to know exactly where their team is headed.
Despite another dismal finish last season, the Senators seem to believe that they are ready to load up for contention, sacrificing a top-ten pick and another valuable early second-rounder for an established scorer.
Time will tell if Pierre Dorion’s team truly is as ready as they believe themselves to be. For now, though, it’s an odd move given their current state.
