Report: Alex DeBrincat could be traded from Senators!

For an Ottawa Senators team that found themselves on the cusp of their first postseason spot since 2017 thanks to a late season push, this would be a significant setback.

According to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch, forward Alex DeBrincat, who is coming off his first season with the Senators after a trade last year with the Chicago Blackhawks, doesn't appear at all committed to staying in the Canadian capital city on a long term basis. 

“From what I heard this morning, I think we’re talking about a guy who has no inclination of signing here,” said Garrioch. “He said he’s open to having discussions but I found what he said was very non-committal. He didn't show any signs that he’s going to sign a contact extension here.

“The Senators won’t keep him unless they can get some kind of long-term extension in place. They’ve had the door open since they acquired him last July. There have been no substantial discussions between DeBrincat, his agent, Jeff Jackson, and Dorion. I think there’s a possibility that at the draft, we may see Alex DeBrincat get moved.”

DeBrincat was a key addition made by the Senators last summer that also saw them lure veteran Claude Giroux back to his home city. He finished fourth on the team in goals scored with 27, along with total points in 66. He's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, as he just wrapped up the final year of the three-year, $19.2 million contract he inked with Chicago in 2019. 

“I think the Senators can look at this [season] as a success. They've made steps in the right direction, with the emergence of Tim Stutzle and the best free agent signing in the history of this club with the addition of Claude Giroux,” said Garrioch. “I think the pieces are in place for this team to head in the right direction. I think as they head into this offseason there’s a lot of promise and hope for next year and I think they can feel good about themselves.”

Will DeBrincat be part of the long term future of the Senators? Or will he be one and done?