Player Discussion Alex DeBrincat

[DrEasy]

If there's one thing I've learned at this point in my sports fandom, it's that players almost across the board value "maximizing" their earnings as the first priority despite what else comes out of their mouth and despite the fact that even a fraction of their wealth is inconceivable to pheasants like us and adding to it would see irrelevant.

I laugh when i hear about finally being able to "set up their family" after their mega deal, while the say the 30 mil or whatever they made before that wasn't enough lol. And since when does every family of a pro sports player need to be instantly absolved of any responsibility ever again. Must be nice, I'm definitely jealous.

I can't fault them for wanting the best situation they can get for themselves while they have the possibility. It is greedy, but that's just human nature. And it's not like it's money they're stealing.

 

[Cosmix]

It all sounds good, but if they're in the race, he just won't be traded. We already know that's just how it goes in all likelihood.

If the team is not in a strong playoff position, not just in a bubble position, by the trade deadline, then he should be traded; however, that would be smart asset management and we don't have that at this time.

I was surprised when I heard Dorion say that he didn't talk to Debrincat about an extension prior to squeezing the trigger.

Saying 2 years away from UFA is OK but it's one regular year and a maybe QO year. With what was known about the cap ceiling at that time and our cap situation for 2023-24, there was a pretty decent chance from the get-go that it could be just a one year stay in Ottawa.

Did Dorion know that? I think he did. He is just a poor GM.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I can't fault them for wanting the best situation they can get for themselves while they have the possibility. It is greedy, but that's just human nature. And it's not like it's money they're stealing.

For sure. I didn't mean to fault them, it's just a perspective thing from someone who isn't wealthy. As I said, I'm actually incredibly jealous they even have that option.

From my seat, I just can't imagine why having as much as possible is the priority when you're already living lavishly, but I'm sure when you're in that position it's very different.

I also find it relates to the chance you give your team to win in a cap environment. They all talk about winning, but very few would sacrifice individually to fit x,y or z in under the cap. The money is #1, winning #2.

 

[JungleBeat]

This is sports. If Debrincat doesn’t want to sign here that’s fine, show him the door and give him a crushing hit when he comes back to the CTC.

What is kind boggling is Dorion trading for him knowing how much his qualifying offer was. It seems like Dorion went all in to make the playoffs and save himself from getting fired by new owners. A selfish move by the failure of a GM.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

If the team is not in a strong playoff position, not just in a bubble position, by the trade deadline, then he should be traded; however, that would be smart asset management and we don't have that at this time.


Did Dorion know that? I think he did. He is just a poor GM.

Ya, I just don't see it unless they're in the dumpster again.

Just look at this year. Not many people actually took their chances seriously. I know I didn't other than maybe 2 or 3 games, that they then lost. There was arguably what, a week or maybe two that they were realistically in the wild card race?

I feel like it's basically guaranteed they wouldn't have traded him this year if he'd been expiring this summer instead of next, and I see that as the much more likely outcome again next year over them bottoming out.

I say just cut the cord now and re-construct the roster with the cap space.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Give me max contract length at minimum league salary and I'd live in Winnipeg no problem.

Let's not talk crazy now.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Let's not talk crazy now.

Lol, crazy? I'd do that in a heartbeat! League minimum for 8 years would allow me to retire immediately after...and immediately leave Winnipeg.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

View attachment 718223

I agree with Bruce .. its definitely moving in the direction of a trade. If all Dorion gets is tinker toys offered he'll play the TDL card and go from there. New ownership / their reps can make the call

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Is this going to be another Stone situation where we think it's the player that doesn't want to be here?

Has not started off that way. Pierre Dorion;.. with all his faults ; and there are many; more than I can count; can learn

Both are to blame, that’s easy to see.

Both what? GJ you are on the clock

 

[5ive4Fighting]

It's not surprising - the vibes were off all year. But it's still dissapointing when you're proud enough of your team to think you've finally earned the privilege of being a good place and a place people want to be. But all players value different things, and he's maybe not happy with being a second line guy more often than not, in addition to whatever else he's not happy with. I just hope it's before next season becasue you just KNOW the media will be relentless in making it awkward ALL year.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Both are to blame, that’s easy to see.

I don't think a pending ufa is "to blame" for not choosing to stay long term in a location they had no say on being dealt to. All the risk was on the organization.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Has not started off that way. Pierre Dorion;.. with all his faults ; and there are many; more than I can count; can learn


Both what? GJ you are on the clock

think hard, you’re on the clock.

 

[K1900L]

For sure. I didn't mean to fault them, it's just a perspective thing from someone who isn't wealthy. As I said, I'm actually incredibly jealous they even have that option.

From my seat, I just can't imagine why having as much as possible is the priority when you're already living lavishly, but I'm sure when you're in that position it's very different.

I also find it relates to the chance you give your team to win in a cap environment. They all talk about winning, but very few would sacrifice individually to fit x,y or z in under the cap. The money is #1, winning #2.

This is also the fault of sports fans who value spectacle over loyalty. Players who value the city and team over an additional few millions in total career earnings or individual awards still show up sometimes, but they hardly get any awareness for this.
Nowitzki's run with Dallas in 2011 was by far the most impressive playoff performance an individual player has shown in the NBA for decades, carrying his team as the only all star to beat Durant, Harden and Westbrook with Oklahoma, Kobe with LA and Lebron, Wade and Bosh with Miami. All of them in their prime.
12 years later, few people seem to remember this run or Dirk, who decided against earning big money in LA and even voluntarily got less so Dallas could create a better team before he retired.
Kobe did the same with LA and led them to championships.
Not staying with your team up until they win a cup or hopping teams to boost your individual accomplishments is a thing that makes me value players much less. Lebron will never be as good as Michael or Kobe just for this reason alone imo. Dude was gone whenever his team worsened and a different all star team popped up somewhere. That's pathetic, but the people like it.

Nothing beats having success with the people with whom you went through thick and thin.

However, it is also true that DeBrincat wasn't asked for this situation. If he should however end up in Vegas instead of Detroit (if they want him), my verdict is clear.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

It's not surprising - the vibes were off all year. But it's still dissapointing when you're proud enough of your team to think you've finally earned the privilege of being a good place and a place people want to be. But all players value different things, and he's maybe not happy with being a second line guy more often than not, in addition to whatever else he's not happy with. I just hope it's before next season becasue you just KNOW the media will be relentless in making it awkward ALL year.

the disappointment is not really at stake of crumbling... With what we've been trough not wanting to stay is almost expected... I love Tkachuk, Norris and Stutzle all wanted that but DeBrincat is a different cat and under different circumstances than all of them. We all knew there was a 50/50 chance that he was gone. He wants to go. He is a luxury player and on this roster he takes too many available dollars to allow them to have 3 solid lines.

think hard, you’re on the clock.

copy DCat

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

This is also the fault of sports fans who value spectacle over loyalty. Players who value the city and team over an additional few millions in total career earnings or individual awards still show up sometimes, but they hardly get any awareness for this.
Nowitzki's run with Dallas in 2011 was by far the most impressive playoff performance an individual player has shown in the NBA for decades, carrying his team as the only all star to beat Durant, Harden and Westbrook with Oklahoma, Kobe with LA and Lebron, Wade and Bosh with Miami. All of them in their prime.
12 years later, few people seem to remember this run or Dirk, who decided against earning big money in LA and even voluntarily got less so Dallas could create a better team before he retired.
Kobe did the same with LA and led them to championships.
Not staying with your team up until they win a cup or hopping teams to boost your individual accomplishments is a thing that makes me value players much less. Lebron will never be as good as Michael or Kobe just for this reason imo.

However, it is also true that DeBrincat wasn't asked for this situation. If he should however end up in Vegas instead of Detroit (if they want him), my verdict is clear.

Fair points. I definitely remember the Dirk win fondly as well as taking less to make it happen. I think that was also more common back then but times have really changed. Loyalty has mostly died out and it's hard to blame either side.

I'm a LeBron fan, I'll admit that despite your comment, but was very much on the hate train during his Miami stint. I thought the move back to Cleveland was one of the coolest UFA decisions ever, he realized he messed up handling the move to Miami like he did and he got the home state the chip before cowardly KD cheated the damn league. The move to LA was all about family and lifestyle, so hard to blame him for that one either, but I get it, he is not perfect.

I think the NBA is a bit of a different animal and in part did that to themselves with that stupid CBA that made the max contract length 4 and 5 years, 1 of which is almost always a declined option year. There's basically no such thing as a long term contract in that league anymore and every summer half of every roster is shuffled. I hate it from a fan perspective, but basketball is my favorite sport to watch, so I put up with it.

 

[Golden_Jet]

the disappointment is not really at stake of crumbling... With what we've been trough not wanting to stay is almost expected... I love Tkachuk, Norris and Stutzle all wanted that but DeBrincat is a different cat and under different circumstances than all of them. We all knew there was a 50/50 chance that he was gone. He wants to go. He is a luxury player and on this roster he takes too many available dollars to allow them to have 3 solid lines.


copy DCat

Agree unless he was taking between 7.5-8, he needs to move on. Not sure if signing bonuses would of helped him stay, but get a 2/3 line guy and a goalie.

 

[StoicSensFan]

Pretty easy to read tea leaves, when you see the list.

His agent won't discuss a long-term contract, gives a dumb reason (waiting for ownership) for not discussing an extension, gave a list of preferred teams, Dorion is trying to trade a player he gave up a 7th overall pick for.

I'm not sure how much more writing on the wall you need.

Tea leaves, writing on the wall. Yet nothing concrete. Just saying it's a little silly for some people to vent their anger towards DeBrincat when we have no idea what's actually going on.

 

[Sun God Nika]

People getting mad at DeBrincat for not wanting to stay are missing the mark.

Let's not pretend he agreed to come here and later changed his mind - he was never asked whether he had any interest in playing in Ottawa.

Dorion couldn't even be bothered to ask his agent whether he'd would want to play in Canada before trading for him.

If he had he would have got the response of "absolutely ****ing not" and that should have killed the deal.

DeBrincat owes this team nothing. He doesn't have to spend the prime of his career in one of the least desirable destinations for American star players just because we traded for him. It's asinine to think otherwise.

Everything you said is true, but we can still hate him for not buying in like Brady , Norris and eventually Sanderson will even if it is irrational

I get flack for bringing this up but I think Bunting will be perfect for that #2 LW spot. He isn’t a line driver but he is capable of finishing plays and holding his own offensively. He will come in around 2/3rds the cost of Debrincat leaving some valuable cap flexibility and he brings grit.

There are concerns for sure like his discipline but I still believe it’s a great fit.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Lol, crazy? I'd do that in a heartbeat! League minimum for 8 years would allow me to retire immediately after...and immediately leave Winnipeg.

So would I, without a seconds hesitation. I was kidding, of course. There are very few places I wouldn't go to for a mil a year, let alone 8

 

[BondraTime]

ELC guys are always buying in, it's their only choice for another 5 years.

Soon to be UFA's is a whole different story.

It was an extremely risky trade, with a very high likelihood of backfire. Pierre took the chance.

That looks to be coming to fruition.

The Sens are a team that needs assurances when trading for guys like DBC. They aren't a So-Cal, or Florida team. The hope to convince someone to stay is not a route the Sens can take, as they are not a desirable place for guys entering that UFA age.

 

[OttawaSenators11]

I don’t usually do trade suggestions, but if LA is on Alex’s list wonder if they’d do one of Kempe or Fiala for an extended Debrincat ?

 

[Beech]

ELC guys are always buying in, it's their only choice for another 5 years.

Soon to be UFA's is a whole different story.

It was an extremely risky trade, with a very high likelihood of backfire. Pierre took the chance.

That looks to be coming to fruition.

The Sens are a team that needs assurances when trading for guys like DBC. They aren't a So-Cal, or Florida team. The hope to convince someone to stay is not a route the Sens can take, as they are not a desirable place for guys entering that UFA age.

would you not think that; their thinking at the time was;

Get him here. This team is about to flourish.. Talbot may be the answer. He (DBC) can be the 40 goal snipper we need. Other pieces are looking good. We end up at 100 points, make the playoffs. He sees the potential. Signs to be part of an "FYOUS" run. Similar to what his Chicago team went through just before he got there!!!

Talbot is not the answer. Injuries, DBC poor play.. and it unraveled.

I can see their thinking and I can see your concerns/risk considerations.

 

[BoardsofCanada]

We need to get Formenton back in the fold. He can put up 20.. doesn't completely replace DBC's 30 but not bad.. and Formenton is probably much better defensively.

 

[Cosmix]

I don’t usually do trade suggestions, but if LA is on Alex’s list wonder if they’d do one of Kempe or Fiala for an extended Debrincat ?

I doubt very much that Debrincat is going to agree to a long term contract; it looks like he will only stay in Ottawa under the one year QO or arbitration award. Why do you think LA would trade Kempe or Fiala for Debrincat?

 

[bicboi64]

I doubt very much that Debrincat is going to agree to a long term contract; it looks like he will only stay in Ottawa under the one year QO or arbitration award. Why do you think LA would trade Kempe or Fiala for Debrincat?

LA's has the assets to pull off a trade, but insulating their developing centres after Kopitar can help them stay competitive. Cat would be an upgrade on guys like Arvidsson, Kempe, Iafallo, etc...

They don't need him by any means, but can afford a luxury like him.