Alex DeBrincat Unwilling to Negotiate Contract Extension with Sens, per Report

The Ottawa Senators made quite the splash when they traded a slew of draft picks for forward Alex DeBrincat. In 368 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, DeBrincat has 160 goals and 307 points to his name, and the American sniper has reached 40 goals twice; in '20-21 he scored 32 goals in 52 games (51 goal-pace per 82).

DeBrincat -- currently making $6.4 million per year -- is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent after this season and is due for a pay bump. A big one, as his qualifying offer will cost Ottawa a minimum of $9 million.

According to Ian Mendes, who covers the Senators for TSN, the former second-round pick plans to ride out the season before deciding what his next move is. For those who did not witness the Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk sagas, this spells bad news for the Senators.

Or, to try a differing perspective, perhaps DeBrincat has a huge season for the Sens, and GM Pierre Dorion flips his very expensive RFA for the same sort of return Tkachuk yielded, should DeBrincat opt out. That would be a sweet day in Sensville, no question.

Ottawa is poised for a big season, and DeBrincat -- with projected linemates Tim Stützle and Claude Giroux -- ought to really pop. No doubt, Ottawa will do what they can to keep him, but if DeBrincat wants to control his own destiny, his pedigree has certainly earned him that right.

Model: JFresh, TDH

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