The Chicago Blackhawks head into the 2022 NHL Entry Draft with no first-round pick. That could change by trading a star player.
The Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli is reporting that Alex DeBrincat days as a Blackhawk are numbered.
DeBrincat is a 40-goal scorer and only 24 years old. The Chicago Blackhawks only have him under contract through next season. While it would be nice to have a young star on the ice to get fans through this rebuild, DeBrincat is going to cost a good chunk of change to keep around long term.
It might be worth it in the long run to get a high first-round pick and some prospects instead of having DeBrincat take up a portion of the salary cap.
A rebuild the Chicago Blackhawks are undertaking can take at least a minimum of three years before you can mention being a possible Stanley Cup contender. The maximum time frame is “who knows when” depending on if the wrong decisions are made.
The Blackhawks could keep DeBrincat for life and possibly never come close to the Stanley Cup. To pay what DeBrincat will probably get in the open market, it is probably best to move the Hawks most valuable trade asset and replenish the prospect system.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson is interested in getting into the first round. The Chicago Blackhawks traded away their first-round pick, which turned out to be the sixth pick, to the Columbus Blue Jackets the last offseason as part of the Seth Jones deal.
The only way he is getting into the first round is by trading his young star.
There are rumors the Philadelphia Flyers are interested in sending the fifth pick in the first round to the Blackhawks for DeBrincat. The New Jersey Devils are also rumored to be dangling the second pick in the draft for DeBrincat.
On his 32 Thoughts podcast this morning, @FriedgeHNIC wonders if 2 years of control of Alex DeBrincat is enough for the NJ Devils to give up the No. 2 overall pick on Thursday night. #Blackhawks
Here’s the podcast:https://t.co/x0V9iZWFSH
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) July 5, 2022
While the top of the year’s draft is not like next year’s class, the Chicago Blackhawks would still have a chance to add a talented player to their prospect pool. Plus, Davidson could come away with more picks and prospects from the Flyers or Devils.
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