Islanders Mediocre Trade Proposal for DeBrincat Revealed

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TJ Tucker
July 10, 2023 (7:04 PM)

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There's no question the Ottawa Senators received a lot of offers for Alex DeBrincat. The 25-year-old recently decided one year with the Sens was enough, and was eventually traded to the Detroit Red Wings, signing a new four-year deal in the process. We now know what at least one other team in the mix was offering, and it's not a shock that Detroit won out.

In return for DeBrincat, Ottawa was given Dominik Kubal�k, prospect Donovan Sebrango, a conditional 2024 first-round draft pick and Detroit's 2024 fourth-round selection. . According to a new report by News Day, New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello was trying to pry DeBrincat away from the Sens as well, but wasn't willing to give up nearly enough.

"The two-time 40-goal scorer from Farmington Hills, Michigan, was exactly what the Islanders needed. But the Islanders' proposed trade package, which included center Jean-Gabriel Pageau and the remaining three seasons of his six-year, $30 million deal as well as right wing Oliver Wahlstrom, per an NHL source, did not entice the Senators. It seems certain Lamoriello would have had to include a first-round pick and maybe a prospect as well, and the Islanders have not picked in the first round since 2019 and may be reluctant to surrender future premium picks. Andrew Gross, NewsDay.com

Gross is absolutely right. Without any picks included at all, this offer doesn't even seem like a good try. Of course, the whole trade was dependent on whether DeBrincat was willing to sign a new contract with the Isles. The article doesn't say whether that was the case, but it's safe to assume he would have at least considered it, or Lamoriello wouldn't have bothered.

Reuniting Pageau with the only other NHL team he's ever played for would have been interesting, and something that probably wouldn't have made him too happy.