The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch has written an after-the-fact take on the Alex DeBrincat deal from a Senators perspective this evening:
Sources say DeBrincat didn’t like being in the second-line role behind Tkachuk and didn’t feel there would ever be an opportunity to move up the depth chart. DeBrincat made it clear speaking with Detroit reporters Monday morning he had no intention of signing with the Senators.
“We spent a year there and we just didn’t really have enough time to think about signing long-term there. I think there were probably better fits out there for me,” DeBrincat said. “That’s why we said we weren’t going to sign long-term at that time. They made decision to try to get something for me and avoid me walking for free next year. Once I said that I think the writing was on the wall and they were ready to move me.”
So erase the talk that DeBrincat never asked for a trade or he was waiting to see who the new owner might be before making a decision. The reality is he wanted to return home to Detroit and, as he spoke with reporters from the area, he couldn’t hide his excitement that the trade worked out.
The Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars and New York Islanders all made a hard push for DeBrincat, but they had no chance of signing him. He and his Toronto-based agent, Jeff Jackson, were trying to engineer a trade to Detroit throughout this process, so that made it difficult for Dorion.
DeBrincat makes his off-season home just outside the city and grew up there.
“Detroit was my No. 1. There were definitely other teams I think but in the end I’m happy I’m here,” he said. “I’m happy to join this team and I think this team has a lot of potential.”
Yzerman said it didn’t take long to get this deal done. He spoke with Dorion before the NHL draft in Nashville late last month, revisited it around July 1 and then got on the phone Sunday to see if they could get it across the finish line. At that point, DeBrincat agreed to the contract.
