The Chicago Blackhawks made a significant roster shakeup on Thursday, trading their All-Star forward Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators. The Blackhawks will receive three draft pick in exchange, which, in theory, should aid their rebuild efforts.
The package coming to Chicago includes the seventh overall pick and No. 39 selection in the 2022 NHL Draft. They will also get the third round in 2024.
The Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson described the decision to trade DeBrincat as “incredibly difficult” but said that he believes the move will benefit the organization in the long run.
“We feel as if this move sets the Blackhawks up for future success by giving us additional flexibility and future talent,” Davidson said in a team-released statement.
The Chicago Blackhawks have been stuck in NHL purgatory since they lifted the Stanley Cup in 2014–15. The franchise has made the postseason three times since then but failed to advance past the first round. The Blackhawks also failed to reach 30 wins in the past two seasons, prompting the organization to take the rebuild path.
Alex DeBrincat spent all of his five years in the NHL with the Blackhawks. He earned his first All-Star nod in 2021-22 after scoring 41 goals and adding 37 assists for a career-high 78 points. DeBrincat played a total of 368 games in the league and contributed 307 points.
