Revisiting the Blackhawks’ Alex DeBrincat Trade
In the summer of 2022, the Chicago Blackhawks initiated a full-scale rebuild by trading star forward Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators. The move, executed on July 7, 2022, just hours before the NHL Draft, sent shockwaves through the Blackhawks fanbase. DeBrincat, coming off a career-high 78 points, was a fan favorite and a key offensive contributor. In exchange, the Blackhawks received Ottawa's first-round (7th overall) and second-round (39th overall) picks in 2022, along with a third-round pick in 2024.
At the time, the return was widely considered insufficient for a player of DeBrincat's caliber. He was young, dynamic, and had proven chemistry with Patrick Kane. However, Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson had his reasons. DeBrincat was entering the final year of his contract, and there was no guarantee he would re-sign with Chicago. Additionally, the Blackhawks had traded away their own first-round pick in the 2022 draft in the Seth Jones deal. Acquiring a top pick was crucial to accelerating the rebuild.
With the 7th overall pick, the Blackhawks selected defenseman Kevin Korchinski. Korchinski has since become a promising young player on the Blackhawks' blue line. The 39th overall pick was used to select center Paul Ludwinski, who is currently playing in the AHL. The 2024 third-round pick was used to select A.J. Spellacy, who is still playing in the OHL.
DeBrincat's tenure in Ottawa was short-lived. After just one season, where he scored 27 goals and 66 points with a minus-31 rating, he was traded to his hometown Detroit Red Wings. The Senators received winger Dominik Kubalik, defenseman Donovan Sebrango, a first-round pick (originally belonging to Boston), and a 2024 fourth-round pick. DeBrincat has since become a key player for the Red Wings.
Looking back, the DeBrincat trade is a complex transaction with lasting implications for all teams involved. For the Blackhawks, it was a calculated risk that prioritized long-term asset accumulation over short-term competitiveness. While they lost a star player, they gained valuable draft capital that has the potential to contribute to their future success. Korchinski has already established himself as an NHL player, and Ludwinski and Spellacy are still developing.
The Senators' perspective is less favorable. They acquired DeBrincat with the expectation of signing him to a long-term extension, but were ultimately unable to do so. They essentially gave up a significant package of picks for one season of DeBrincat, a gamble that did not pay off. However, they were able to recoup some value by trading him to Detroit.
The Red Wings, on the other hand, acquired a proven goal-scorer in DeBrincat, adding offensive firepower to their lineup. The trade solidified their commitment to competing in the present while still maintaining a focus on the future.
Ultimately, the success of the DeBrincat trade will be judged by the long-term contributions of the players and assets acquired by each team. While it is still too early to definitively declare a winner, the Blackhawks appear to be in a better position now than they were when the trade initially occurred. The acquisition of Korchinski, in particular, looks promising. As the Blackhawks continue their rebuild, the DeBrincat trade will be remembered as a pivotal moment in the organization's history.
