Player Discussion Alex DeBrincat

[DylanSensFan]

Excuses.

DJ was playing him on PP1 and PP2 , like come on. Come on.

Caufield was not getting minutes or development. How many games is DBC getting 20 minutes? He is averaging 19 minutes a game. If DBC wasn't insistent on playing his offwing, he would be on the top line. And he is not going to play in front of the only guy who is playing well

DeBrincat has been extremely underwhelming for me to this point. When I saw him in the pre season, at least it looked like he was playing with some jam, even if not scoring. In the regular season, what I see is a player who coasts most of the time. He isn't the hard working player he claimed to be when with Chicago. He's ineffective on the forecheck, he's ineffective at actually getting into scoring positions, he's ineffective at back checking. He gets picked by opposing players too often. He is just an extremely terrible players all around. If he isn't scoring he seems useless to me. He doesn't play to our teams identity, which is to be tough to play against. With his addition our team has gotten softer.

 

[RickyLafleur]

This is the Bobby Ryan trade all over again. Starting to wonder if this team even has a pro scouting department. Nearly every single player we acquire, or trade for looks worse while they're here and look better once they leave.

 

[NyQuil]

This is the Bobby Ryan trade all over again. Starting to wonder if this team even has a pro scouting department. Nearly every single player we acquire, or trade for looks worse while they're here and look better once they leave.

Is that a pro scouting problem or a problem with our coaching?

 

[RickyLafleur]

Is that a pro scouting problem or a problem with our coaching?

Safe to say it's probably both. We cant identify players that compliment the roster properly at all, and once they leave they usually look like completely different players.

 

[DylanSensFan]

Is that a pro scouting problem or a problem with our coaching?

I would argue that it is a DeBrincat problem. This guy just doesn't play with much jam. He's ineffectual. Maybe a better coach can push him to play harder? I am really doubtful about this happening to be honest. If he can't get motivated with two years left in his RFA contract. If he isn't motivated for a big pay day, then what will motivate him?

 

[coladin]

DeBrincat has been extremely underwhelming for me to this point. When I saw him in the post season, at least it looked like he was playing with some jam, even if not scoring. In the regular season, what I see is a player who coasts most of the time. He isn't the hard working player he claimed to be when with Chicago. He's ineffective on the forecheck, he's ineffective at actually getting into scoring positions, he's ineffective at back checking. He gets picked by opposing players too often. He is just an extremely terrible players all around. If he isn't scoring he seems useless to me. He doesn't play to our teams identity, which is to be tough to play against. With his addition our team has gotten softer.

Do you not find him slow? I don't see much ability for him to separate himself from a defender.

 

[DylanSensFan]

Do you not find him slow? I don't see much ability for him to separate himself from a defender.

He looks extremely slow and has great difficulty defending the puck. He gets picked and poke checked all the time and loses the puck. It is maddening to watch honestly. I was expecting an explosive player, who used his small but thick frame to protect the puck and make plays. He just seems like he's a small player who doesn't have much of anything going for him when he isn't being fed hot passes on the PP. Wish we had a coach like Martin StLouis who could possibly get more out of him.

 

[DylanSensFan]

Do you not find him slow? I don't see much ability for him to separate himself from a defender.

When I compare him to another player on our team that is small I think of Brannstrom. But Brannstrom actually plays with a brain and is able to use movement to protect the puck when making offensive rushes, or when he is defending down low. I actually see some work ethic and smarts from Branny because of his size. DeBrincat literally doesn't do anything other than wait at the dot for a one time shot. His forecheck is abysmal too. If DeBrincat looked smart out there and was actually carrying the puck and forechecking hard, I probably wouldn't have much bad to say about his lack of offensive output. But currently as it stands, he is a liability on this team.

 

[NB613]

We have around 22M in cap space next off-season to re-sign ADB, Zub, Pinto, Talbot, Formenton, 3 forwards and 3 more defensemen.

If I'm being charitable and we don't need to overpay players to keep them in Ottawa:

ADB: 8.5M
Zub: 5M
Pinto: 4M (bridge deal)
Talbot: 4.5M
Formenton: 2M

= 24M in cap just for those 5.

That's without dumping Zaitsev, but it's also not not taking into consideration having to re-sign Holden, Brannstrom, JBD and calling up 3 more depth forwards like Greig, Sokolov and Crookshank to replace Motte, Watson and Brassard.

After 2023/24 there is about 3.4M coming off the cap + 4.5M going to Zaitsev, but Sanderson's long-term deal will take up all of that.

There's basically no money left next season to improve the defense or goaltending if we re-sign ADB.

It's possible the cap goes up and helps us out, but of course that begs the question - do we spend to the higher salary cap?

Formenton is at best a “reclamation” project if hes even here. Pretty safe to not include him in the picture at all.

We cannot afford a backup goalie making that much, max $2.5M.

No way Pinto gets $4M, much more likely a 1-2 year at $3M max.

 

[frontsfan2005]

DeBrincat didn't have a great season in 19-20:
Reg. season: 70 GP, 18 G, 27 A, 45 PTS
Playoffs: 9 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 PTS

This was coming off a 41-goal season in 18-19 and a 28-goal rookie season in 17-18.

Of course he followed this up with 32 goals in 52 games in 20-21 and 41 goals last season.

Any reason for the dip in 19-20?

 

[Golden_Jet]

Excuses.

DJ was playing him on PP1 and PP2 , like come on. Come on.

Caufield was not getting minutes or development. How many games is DBC getting 20 minutes? He is averaging 19 minutes a game. If DBC wasn't insistent on playing his offwing, he would be on the top line. And he is not going to play in front of the only guy who is playing well

I agree with you this time, he plays both PP, has lots of chances, creates chances, but needs to bury some.

Out playing our opponents big in the first periods, and coming away tied is frustrating.

 

[NB613]

We are in no rush to trade him. Needs to be given a shot with new coach and tweaks to system. He started the season on fire in terms of physicality, agility etc but has lost that fire recently. Same can be said about alot of guys! So happy we didnt give up ‘23 1st rounder for him

 

[Alex1234]

Poor guy
Went from 1st RW in scoring in NHL last year to this shit show
He's not staying mark my words
Try and get the most for him at the TDL (Hronek if possible)

 

[robsenz]

Poor guy
Went from 1st RW in scoring in NHL last year to this shit show
He's not staying mark my words
Try and get the most for him at the TDL (Hronek if possible)

I think you're forgetting a few things about Chicago last year, seems lateral.

 

[DylanSensFan]

We are in no rush to trade him. Needs to be given a shot with new coach and tweaks to system. He started the season on fire in terms of physicality, agility etc but has lost that fire recently. Same can be said about alot of guys! So happy we didnt give up ‘23 1st rounder for him

The fire is what he needs to have. He needs to show some heart. That is all i really care about regarding his game. I know he can be an offensive player. What I want is for him to be more tenacious in other areas of the game. He showed more tenacity yesterday.

 

[Sens Vader]

That was one of his best games last night I thought, looked great

 

[Butchy Dakkar]

New team, 1/4 season in, still putting up points in that stretch but looking better of late. Last night he was awesome.

Hopefully he keeps this up. I want him on this team, without wading into the salary cap allocation debates (I get it, he is an expensive winger)

 

[coladin]

New team, 1/4 season in, still putting up points in that stretch but looking better of late. Last night he was awesome.

Hopefully he keeps this up. I want him on this team, without wading into the salary cap allocation debates (I get it, he is an expensive winger)

Best game by far, even without the goal. He looked quick, had some energy and hopefully he can build on it

 

[Sensinitis]

Might be a blessing in disguise that he’s scoring less goals than usual. If you can lock him up on any type of discount compared to the 9M+ we were expecting that is great news

 

[otown]

Might be a blessing in disguise that he’s scoring less goals than usual. If you can lock him up on any type of discount compared to the 9M+ we were expecting that is great news

I don't get the impression he likes it in Ottawa enough to stay. Not scoring like he is used to and he is on a sub-par team that hasn't lived up to expectations. I see a deadline trade in his future.

 

[Ice-Tray]

I don't get the impression he likes it in Ottawa enough to stay. Not scoring like he is used to and he is on a sub-par team that hasn't lived up to expectations. I see a deadline trade in his future.

He was happy to stay in Chicago to help start the rebuild process, I doubt ‘sub-par’ team has anything to do with it to be honest.

From how he has described himself and his move here, it looks like it will come down the fit for him and his family, and that includes both the city and the team.

The city is a no-brainer for a young family, and the team seems to be tight, especially now with the wagons circled.

The contract will obviously be key, but as we have seen you after year now, we seem to have little problem signing the guys and getting them to buy in long term.

I’m more worried about Zub to be honest, though I suspect that his team may want to let the market set what Ottawa needs to offer. I don’t for a second think that PD doesn’t want this guy signed. I just don’t think he’s in the drivers seat on that one.

 

[HF Reader]

He was happy to stay in Chicago to help start the rebuild process, I doubt ‘sub-par’ team has anything to do with it to be honest.

From how he has described himself and his move here, it looks like it will come down the fit for him and his family, and that includes both the city and the team.

The city is a no-brainer for a young family, and the team seems to be tight, especially now with the wagons circled.

The contract will obviously be key, but as we have seen you after year now, we seem to have little problem signing the guys and getting them to buy in long term.

I’m more worried about Zub to be honest, though I suspect that his team may want to let the market set what Ottawa needs to offer. I don’t for a second think that PD doesn’t want this guy signed. I just don’t think he’s in the drivers seat on that one.

If the Senators have to choose between Zub and Debrincat I'd be inclined to choose the defencman.

 

[Alex1234]

If the Senators have to choose between Zub and Debrincat I'd be inclined to choose the defencman.

No brainer
You don't want Harmonic as your #1 RHD

Never

 

[Ice-Tray]

If the Senators have to choose between Zub and Debrincat I'd be inclined to choose the defencman.

Yeah it would be really hard not to, Zub has been fantastic.

Hopefully it doesn’t come to that!

 

[CorrectOpinion]

I'm 90% sure this just the type of kid who needs a long time to emotionally adjust to this change. Furthermore, I suspect as he gets used to his new environment that he could be as loyal to this team as anybody. You can tell this guy is a character human being.