Red Wings Acquire DeBrincat From Senators

The much-debated on-and-off deal between the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators involving forward Alex DeBrincat is finally complete. DeBrincat became a Detroit player Sunday evening.

The package to acquire the two-time 40-goal scorer wasn’t nearly as expensive as was rumored. In exchange for DeBrincat, Ottawa is getting forward Dominik Kubalik, defenseman Donovan Sebrango a conditional first-round pick and a fourth-round pick in 2024.

UPDATE: The #RedWings have signed Alex DeBrincat to a 4-year extension with an AAV of $7,875,000. pic.twitter.com/F3aiEpzqO1

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 10, 2023

The Red Wings were immediately making the announcement that the club is in agreement with DeBrincat on a four-year contract extension with an AAV of $7.875 million. DeBrincat was due to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2023-24 NHL season.

The conditions on the first-round pick allow the Red Wings the option of sending their own 2024 choice or the one acquired from Boston in the Tyler Bertuzzi deal. However, it that Boston pick is a top-10 selections, the Bruins maintain the right to give Detroit a 2025 first-rounder instead. Should that happen, the Wings could give that 2025 first rounder, or their own 2024 first-round selection, to Ottawa.

Contract Was Stumbling Block For Red Wings

There’d been off and on speculation of a DeBrincat trade to Detroit for a few months. An NHL source told Detroit Hockey Now late last week that the Red Wings were still in on DeBrincat. However, at the time the source was listing DeBrincat’s contract demands as the main factor that was keeping the deal from coming to fruition.

The Senators had given Jeff Jackson, DeBrincat’s agent, permission to talk to other NHL teams. DeBrincat, through his agent, was reportedly telling teams he wants a contract comparable to the one the New Jersey Devils recently presented to forward Timo Meier. That was an eight-year deal with an AAV of $8.775 million.

According to the source, the DeBrincat camp was seeking a pact in the length of 7-8 years with an AAV in the $9 million range. The Red Wings were able to get him to agree to a pact that was below both ranges.

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Last season, DeBrincat accounted for 27 goals and 66 points in 82 games for Ottawa. Though this was considered a down season for DeBrincat, it would’ve been good enough to be placing him second on the Red Wings in both goals and points.

Twice during his NHL career, the Farmington Hills, Michigan-born right winger was a 40-goal scorer. Over his six-season NHL career, DeBrincat, 25, is averaging 35 goals per campaign.