Chicago Blackhawks trade Alex DeBrincat to Ottawa Senators

The top player listed on today’s Trade Targets board has been moved.

According to Frank Seravalli, the Chicago Blackhawks have traded Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the No. 7 and No. 39 overall picks in the 2022 NHL Draft along with a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Blackhawks originally selected DeBrincat in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft. He broke into the league in 2017-18 with a 52-point rookie season and has been producing at a high level for the Blackhawks since.

In 2021-22, DeBrincat matched a career-high with 41 goals and set a new career-high with 78 points.

For Chicago, this represents moving on from a player before having to pony up and pay him next summer. DeBrincat is entering the final season of a three-year bridge contract worth $6.4 million annually and will be due for a raise as a restricted free agent next summer.

For Ottawa, this represents the Senators making a push to be competitive. The Sens came into the 2021-22 season with hopes of taking a step forward with their young core but wound up posting a 33-42-7 record, good for 26th in the league standings.

DeBrincat will be a significant boost to a top-six that features Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Josh Norris.