Ottawa Senators Still Working on Trading Alex DeBrincat

It was rumored earlier this week that the Ottawa Senators were having difficulty finding suitable trade partners to take RFA Alex DeBrincat off their hands. While they gave permission to the 25-year-old winger's agent to speak with other clubs, the inability to find a suitable offer seemed to stifle trade efforts.

The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reported the DeBrincat camp was seeking a deal similar to the eight-year, $70.4-million contract that Timo Meier recently signed with the New Jersey Devils. That $8.8-million annual salary cap hit is reportedly too high for clubs believed to be interested in the two-time 40-goal scorer. According to Garrioch, those teams value him closer to $7.8 million annually.

Garrioch also speculates the holdup in moving DeBrincat is affecting the Senators' efforts to add to their roster. They've reportedly spoken with UFA winger Vladimir Tarasenko.

DeBrincat has also been linked to the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders in the rumor mill.

The Hockey News Anaheim's Matt Levine wrote DeBrincat would make sense for the Ducks given their need to add more scoring punch. He noted they have the cap space and tradeable assets to make a competitive pitch.

The Red Wings, meanwhile, gained an additional $1.825 million per season over the next two years by terminating the contract of winger Filip Zadina. Appearing on the NHL Network, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggested that could give the Wings more room to sign DeBrincat to a new contract.

Friedman indicated the Senators and Wings have been actively working on a DeBrincat trade. He thinks a deal might not be far away, but the last hurdle is usually the toughest.