DeBrincat was traded to Ottawa from Chicago on Thursday prior to the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft. "Chicago was great for me. I don't have any bad words about my time there," he said on Friday. "But I'm super excited to play some meaningful games and join this young group and hopefully we can do something special." DeBrincat also mentioned that he was shocked by the trade despite hearing the rumors. 

The Blackhawks will receive the No. 7 and No. 39 picks in the 2022 NHL Draft as well as a third-round selection in 2024. "Alex's acquisition brings immediate and additional firepower to our forward group," said Senators GM Pierre Dorion. "He's a dynamic forward who's a scoring threat to the opponent when in the attacking zone. He maintains great vision, has exceptional skill and a quality shot which helps him score from virtually any part of the ice. He's a consistent performer and an underrated playmaker who Senators' fans are certain to enjoy watching play in Ottawa." DeBrincat has one more season left on his three-year, $19.2 million contract and then he is eligible for restricted free agency. He hit the 41-goal mark for the second time in his career during the 2021-22 season, while producing a personal best 78 points in 82 games. This is a big acquisition for Ottawa, as DeBrincat will provide some much-needed scoring depth up front and provide a big boost to the power play.

Chicago is looking to land a spot in the first round and DeBrincat could be moved to make that happen. According to Mark Lazerus of The Athletic, "At this point, the sense I get is it'd be a bigger surprise if they *didn't* trade him than if they did." The Blackhawks have reportedly been listening to trade offers for DeBrincat since the end of the 2021-22 season. 

There is no guarantee that DeBrincat will be moved by Chicago, but there have been ongoing discussions with other teams. According to Pierre LeBrun, the Blackhawks would be looking for a combination of a young player, who presumably has some upside, along with high picks or top prospects in return for DeBrincat.