Adam Proteau says this is a huge opportunity for the Ottawa Senators to upgrade in net or on defense if Alex DeBrincat isn't likely to stay long-term.

As the Ottawa Senators continue the process of deciding who will be their new owner, their on-ice lineup has some challenges ahead this summer. And perhaps the biggest challenge is what they intend to do with top-six winger Alex DeBrincat.

There have been rumors for some time now that DeBrincat – an RFA with a salary cap hit of $6.4 million this past season – is not interested in staying in Ottawa. And that should mean Senators GM Pierre Dorion sends DeBrincat packing at the earliest opportunity.

Some might suggest that the Sens – as is their right under the collective bargaining agreement – hold onto DeBrincat as long as possible. That would mean presenting the 25-year-old with a qualifying contract offer that keeps him off the open market this summer, until such time as he becomes a UFA. But does this team really need an unhappy presence in the lineup, especially when that presence is on a team that has plenty of options to generate offense? We’d say no.

Instead, imagine what the Senators could land in a deal for DeBrincat. Would the Winnipeg Jets be interested in him for at least a year? Would they trade star goalie Connor Hellebuyck to Ottawa in a package deal centered around DeBrincat? That would certainly be the type of offer that would pique Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff’s interest. And, considering the Sens currently need at least one veteran goalie as they battle to transition to a win-now team, a proven game-changer such as Hellebuyck would make a DeBrincat trade well worth Ottawa’s time. 

Indeed, it’s not as if the Senators would be hurting for offense if DeBrincat is sent packing. They had a decent-enough goals-for average of 3.16, but it was their defense – allowing 3.29 goals-against per game – that was the reason the Sens didn’t make the playoffs last year. 

It’s true that Dorion has built up his defense corps, landing veteran Jakob Chychrun at the trade deadline last season, but Chychrun is signed for only the next two seasons before he becomes a UFA. They could use a long-term solution, and you only get long-term solutions by giving up long-term solutions like DeBrincat would be to a team that needs goal-scorers.

Elsewhere, what about the Philadelphia Flyers and their goalie, Carter Hart? They’re not going to give up Hart without a pretty package in return, and while DeBrincat might not be pleased with the prospect of going to Philly and being part of that team’s full-on rebuild, perhaps the Flyers assure him they’re going to flip him to a Stanley Cup contender in short order. Plus, it's an American team if DeBrincat doesn't see himself on a Canadian team long-term. DeBrincat and Hart are approximately the same age, which makes this potential deal an easier sell to Flyers fans.

With Claude Giroux, Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Josh Norris, Drake Batherson and Shane Pinto on board to provide offense, DeBrincat is a luxury for the Senators. They’ll be able to get by just fine without him. What they need urgently are veterans who will be productive in their own zone. DeBrincat can get them that type of player. He isn’t essential to their building progress at this stage of their competitive cycle. And if he truly doesn’t want to be there, removing him is addition by subtraction.

Players make their dissatisfaction with working in a certain market known all the time. In many cases, we never hear a peep about them. But in the hockey fishbowl that is Ottawa, speculation on every member of the roster’s buy-in for the present and future is always going to be there. If DeBrincat isn’t going to sign long-term, so be it. But don’t wait for DeBrincat’s UFA season to send him packing. Do it sooner than later. Be proactive, not reactive.

Senators fans will forget about DeBrincat if Dorion makes a solid deal for his services. If he stays around longer and his trade value decreases toward free agency, though, Ottawa supporters will be angry and vocal about removing him from the organization. Dorion can avoid that by finding a new home for DeBrincat sooner than later.

Different players engineer their way out of organizations in different ways, but at this moment, the Sens can take the bull by the horns and move DeBrincat in a deal benefitting the team at least as much as it benefits the player.