Here’s even more Alex DeBrincat trade talk from the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch, via Paul Kukla of Kukla’s Korner:
Though the talks with the Detroit Red Wings, DeBrincat’s hometown team, have been on and off again throughout this process, there’s talk those discussions have been revisited.
Andy Strickland, a well-connected St. Louis broadcaster, reported Wednesday the Wings were back in the mix. Sources told Postmedia the Anaheim Ducks and New York Islanders are also among the club’s still trying to find a way to make a deal.
The expectation is that if the Senators can find a way to get DeBrincat and his $9 million salary off the books for next season, Ottawa could sign unrestricted free agent winger Vladimir Tarasenko.
The first order of business is to get DeBrincat moved. That’s turned out to be a challenge because after being given permission to speak to at least three teams regarding a contract extension, his agent, Jeff Jackson, hasn’t been able to get the term or money he wants.
TSN’s Darren Dreger said Monday Jackson is seeking a deal similar to Timo Meier’s eight-year, $70.2 million extension with the New Jersey Devils. That’s an average of $8.8 per season, but teams don’t believe he deserves that salary.
They value him closer to a deal in the $7.8 million range, and sources say none has been willing to offer the eight-year deal that Jackson is demanding for DeBrincat.
The Wings haven’t been willing to go long-term with DeBrincat up to this point, but perhaps both sides are willing to compromise to see if there’s a middle ground that would make a trade with the Senators work.
Not sure I see Yzerman budging at all, much less topping Lou’s offer (he’s running the Islanders like they have to make the playoffs at all cost) so I still have my doubts about landing DeBrincat. My only hope is he has a long term deal in place with Detroit and refuses to go to the Islanders.
Also, people keep saying Yzerman doesn’t like long term contracts, but he signed Stamkos, Hedman, Kucherov and Larkin to 8 year deals. Maybe he doesn’t think DeBrincat is comparable to them and that’s where they have to find some middle ground.