If the Blackhawks are going to move Alex DeBrincat this summer, it’s going to take a sizable haul to get him. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman notes in the latest 32 Thoughts podcast (audio link) that Chicago is believed to have recently turned down a package that would have yielded a high first-round pick in next week’s draft, another first-round selection, and a prospect for the 24-year-old but GM Kyle Davidson felt it wasn’t enough. DeBrincat is coming off a 41-goal, 78-point season and has one year left on his current deal with a $6.4MM AAV but will be owed a $9MM qualifying offer next summer which is something that acquiring teams will need to budget around. Meanwhile, with the Blackhawks squarely in a rebuild now, the time might be right to sell high on their star winger and they have justifiably set a high asking price for his services.
Elsewhere out West:
- The Canucks are unlikely to pursue a buyout with center Jason Dickinson this month, notes Thomas Drance of The Athletic (subscription link). Vancouver acquired the 26-year-old last summer with the hope that he could be a quality third-line center, signing him to a three-year deal that carries a $2.65MM cap hit. However, Dickinson managed to put up just five goals and six assists in 62 games this past season, numbers that aren’t close to justifying that cap hit. But since a buyout cost wouldn’t yield considerably higher savings than waiving and demoting him, the Canucks may be better off keeping him around or flipping him for another player that’s similarly underachieving.
- The Oilers have extended the decision deadlines for defenseman Duncan Keith and goalie Mike Smith, reports Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic (subscription link). Originally, Edmonton was looking for clarity on their futures by July 1st but that has now been pushed to July 10th. At this point, Keith appears to be likely to return although there has been recent speculation that Smith, who played through multiple injuries this past season, could be placed on LTIR for the final year of his contract which would have the Oilers on the lookout for another goalie in the coming weeks.
Duncan Keith, The latest NHLer to embarrass himself by hanging around to long.
What’s wrong with trying to get every penny on your deal?
Keith and Smith will return and be a major obstacle in the Oil attaining pieces they truly need. But that is the Holland way, and Detroit is finally clear of his cumbersome deals!
DeBrincat will be traded, but the Hawks have to come down from their ask a tad. And next will be Kane!!!
2 1sts & a prospect (not enough?!) & the acquiring team is on the hook for a $9mil QO or that on a long term contract.
Pass.
Sorry, I wouldn’t take that offer either. DeBrincat is a young, elite star. I don’t know how many of you have seen my recent comments on what first rounders turn out to be, but they’re far more crapshoots than you might imagine. You’ve just as much chance to get a Lias Anderssen or a Kirby Dach than a, well, DeBrincat. (Hell, here’s a stat for you: from the lockout on forward, there are four or so first rounders a year who play less than *ten NHL games* in their careers, period.)
As to being on hook for a $9MM qualifying offer … well, no kidding. Young, elite stars get PAID. 35 NHL players are making more than $9MM AAV, and a whole lot of them aren’t worth it. DeBrincat on the open market would get at LEAST $9MM.
Let’s take a team like Buffalo.
They have 10 players who will be RFAs within the following 2 offseasons.
If Tage has another good follow up season & they added DeBincat (probably cost them their #9 & #16) with a upcoming $9mil QO you are raising the cost to resign Tage + raising the price to resign a Dahlin & Power (think Leafs/Tavares2). Add in Skinner’s $9mil per salary & they become prime RFAs low QO poach casualties. Plus they lose out on 2 young ELCs players. Plus Debrincat will cost the Sabres at least $9mil per on a long term extension.
No thank you.
*meant low Offer sheets casualties.
“starting a full rebuild” and “keeping Toews, Kane and Jones” are mutually exclusive. I understand that DeBrincat is likely to bring the highest return, but dumping onerous (and even below market value in the case of Kane) should be the priority. Half-@ssing it by trading Hegel and DeBrincat, who would still be solidly in their prime when/if the team is good again in five years is a head scratcher. Much less doing it in a big market that isn’t going to have long-term tolerance for losing. If the Hawks are going full rebuild, they need to clear the decks, clear the cap and fully tank for Conner Bedard….or get a goalie now, move Jones and Toews and sign a deal or two.
Toews, Kane, and JOnes have no trade clauses in their contracts. And to “fully tank” for Bedard will get you a 17,5% shot at picking first.
Yeah, at this point, Toews isn’t even worth buying out, even if he’s the most overpaid non-goalie in hockey. It’s not as if the Hawks are going to put together a real contender this year, so they might as well just grit their teeth, wait the year out, and let Toews’ contract expire.