Just hours before the 2022 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators have agreed to a blockbuster trade. Chicago is sending rising superstar Alex DeBrincat to Ottawa for three draft picks. Chicago netted the seventh overall pick in Thursday’s draft, as well as a 2nd round pick and a 3rd round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨 We're picking tonight! pic.twitter.com/ci3RUkQ1q0
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 7, 2022
It’s quite the haul for the 24-year-old, and rightfully so. DeBrincat was coming off of a career year, scoring 41 goals to go with 37 assists for 78 points in his fifth season in the NHL. The 41 goals tied a career-high which he set back in 2018-2019.
It had looked like Alex DeBrincat was the future of the franchise. But, apparently Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson is going for an entire rebuild. It’s certainly an interesting move seeing as Chicago traded away the sixth overall pick in Thursday’s draft to Columbus last year. Now, they acquire the seventh overall pick and might be targeting center Matthew Savoie out of the WHL. The Montreal Canadiens were rumored to looking at Savoie with the eighth pick.
Meanwhile, the Senators making the move for Alex DeBrincat is also a bit confounding. Ottawa had one of the worst teams in the NHL last season and are nowhere near contending. The Eastern Conference last season became the first conference in NHL history to have all eight playoff teams garner at least 100 points.
So, the fact that they were willing to give up 1st, 2nd and 3rd round draft picks is interesting. DeBrincat’s current contract expires after the 2022-2023 season. If he puts together another great year, there will be a massive market for him that Ottawa will have a hard time matching.
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