If DeBrincat wants to wait for ownership to be settled, why do the Senators need an answer by draft day?

If Alex DeBrincat ends up being traded by the Ottawa Senators this summer, it's not because he has a problem with the team or anyone on it. A source close to the DeBrincat family told The Hockey News Ottawa today that, despite all the trade speculation, the 25-year-old winger remains open to staying with the Senators, but he is looking for term and wants to make sure he gets this right.

"He would like to stay," the source said. "But he also knows this is the one (contract) that needs to have term in it. Like a Cole Caufield."

DeBrincat indicated at season's end he's definitely open to anything, but reportedly isn't prepared to sign long-term here – not until he sees what happens with ownership and, by extension, management and coaching. The source isn't certain if that's accurate, but it has led to speculation on social media that maybe DeBrincat and head coach D.J. Smith haven't been on the same page. According to the source, it's actually the other way around.

"He likes the coach a lot and loves the team," the source said. "I think he is worried that with all the guys making (big) money he may not be in their plans, but was excited to play with a healthy Josh Norris."

"Was excited." An ominous use of past tense there.

According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, DeBrincat has supplied the Senators with a list of preferred NHL destinations. That would be a necessary part of the club looking at all their options, including an examination of the trade market and what they might be able to get for their star winger.

What's curious is why the Senators require an answer from DeBrincat by draft day this month. Somewhere along the way, it feels like it's morphed from a preference into a deadline and doesn't necessarily need to be. The Sens could simply wait it out with him. If the argument is that they want to make their best deal possible at the draft, it should be strongly noted that the Sens have shown great ability to make excellent trades at other points in the calendar year.

For example, the immensely bountiful Erik Karlsson trade, one of the best deals in Sens history, was made in the month of September. The trading away of a lesser centre in J.G. Pageau, who got them a first and a second rounder, happened on trade deadline day. 

Draft day isn't the only time you can pull off an amazing trade.

If waiting a while longer keeps the door open for DeBrincat to sign long-term without dramatically affecting the ability to make a good trade later on (if they had to), then that feels like the sensible choice – if they truly want to keep him long term. 

The source even threw in an opinion on DeBrincat's season, amidst all the talk of the player's drop in production.

"I spoke to him a lot and I thought he became a better player this year with 39 assists (a career high)."