Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson is expected to be active in this summer’s trade market as he attempts to rebuild his roster. That’s drawing increased speculation that he could part with Alex DeBrincat for the right price.
DeBrincat topped Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli’s recent list of off-season trade targets. The 24-year-old left winger has a year remaining on his contract with a salary-cap hit of $6.4 million. Cap Friendly indicates DeBrincat will become a restricted free agent next summer with arbitration rights. He’ll also be a year away from unrestricted free agent eligibility.
Seravalli considers it a question of “when”, not “if” DeBrincat gets traded. Pointing out that the winger is due for a $9-million qualifying offer next summer, he believes the two-time 40-goal scorer is the Blackhawks’ best trade chip to stockpile future assets.
NBC Sports Chicago’s Charlie Roumeliotis felt Davidson would seek a return comparable to the two first-rounders and two NHL players he received from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Brandon Hagel. He suggested a high first-round pick and/or a top-level prospect would have to be part of the deal.
Roumeliotis suggested the New Jersey Devils as a potential trade partner. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has indicated he’s willing to swap the second-overall pick in this year’s draft for an impact player. With $25.3 million in cap space, the Devils have room to acquire DeBrincat, though they must also leave enough cap room to sign 73-point winger Jesper Bratt to a contract extension.
The Ottawa Senators could also get into the bidding for DeBrincat. They’re also willing to move their first-rounder (seventh overall) for a scoring winger and have over $24 million in cap space.
