Pierre Dorion: Sens ready to give DeBrincat $9 million per season

The Ottawa Senators have struggled mightily this season, following an offseason in which it looked like the team was ready to take a step forward, they've fallen flat on their face.

Senators GM Pierre Dorion added goaltender Cam Talbot and forwards Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat to his core this past offseason, but it hasn't been enough to turn the tide. So... what's next?

DeBrincat is scheduled to become a restricted free agent and is due an insane $9 million qualifying offer in order to retain his rights. This means that if the Sens want to hang on to DeBrincat's rights and not risk losing him for nothing as a free agent, then they'll need to buck up at least $9 million annually. Yikes...

I like DeBrincat as much as anyone else, but I don't think he's worth $9 million per season. So... what do the Sens do? Do they qualify him and risk inking him to a bloated contract? Do they trade him elsewhere and move on?

Not a chance says Dorion.

Today Dorion announced that the team will qualify DeBrincat at $9 million even if they can't come to terms on a long-term contract.

Again, I like DeBrincat but $9 million annually is a HEFTY price tag...