Alex DeBrincat's ridiculous asking price is likely the reason why the Blackhawks are looking at trading him
With the Chicago Blackhawks going through a tumultuous rebuild and organization overhaul, now the team will be faced with the pending free agency of their young star, Alex DeBrincat.
Still just 24 years of age, DeBrincat has been an offensive machine early in his career with the Blackhawks. In an heightened role this season, he scored 41 goals and 78 points in a full 82 games. Being paid only $6.4M until the end of this year, DeBrincat will be due for a significant raise as a young superstar, and one of the best current Blackhawks.
Yet looking at the organization as a whole, going through an executive overhaul due to the Kyle Beach scandal, while trying to make moves to be a more competitive team last season, the Blackhawks are in turmoil, headed for another rebuild. As such, with their new General Manager Kyle Davidson at the helm, it's been speculated that the team may trade DeBrincat to recoup assets for the rebuild.
That may influence the reported premium DeBrincat is asking for in his next contract as a Restricted Free Agent. According to Mark Lazerus of the Athletic, DeBrincat will command between $9-10M per year on his next contract.
The now rebuilding Hawks will need to evaluate if they can continue to finish low in the standings to acquire high draft picks to fuel their rebuild with such a highly paid, highly talented player on the roster.
If DeBrincat is to be traded, Kyle Davidson will command a king's ransom for the young sniper, hopefully enough to propel the team to compete for the next decade.
