The Red Wings are still rumored to be in the running for one Alex DeBrincat’s services, presuming that the team can work out both a trade with the Ottawa Senators and a contract with DeBrincat’s representation.
MLive’s Ansar Khan isn’t quite so certain that Detroit can or will afford what DeBrincat’s likely asking for in terms of monetary compensation:
DeBrincat, 25, is a restricted free agent who is believed to be seeking a seven- or eight-year contract worth close to $9 million a season. The Red Wings might be hesitant to sign him for longer than five or six years in the $7.5 million range.
In any event, DeBrincat long ago declared he wouldn’t re-sign with the Senators, so a trade is inevitable.
Reports indicate the New York Islanders are the other primary suitor for the Farmington Hills native. The Islanders have less than $1 million in cap space, according to capfriendly.com, so they would have to shed a lot of salary.
The Red Wings currently have roughly $10 million in cap space and that might increase if they waive Filip Zadina Thursday for the purposes of terminating his contract, as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Zadina, who cleared waivers on Tuesday, has two years remaining on his contract at a $1.85 million cap hit ($4.5 million in actual salary). According to Friedman, he would accept the termination in order to become an unrestricted free agent.
