Debrincat has been in NHL for 3 years
17-18 = 28 goals + 24 assists for 52 pts in 82 games
18-19 = 41 goals + 35 assists for 76 pts in 82 games
19-20 = 18 goals + 27 assists for 45 pts in 70 games
Yeah 41 goals and 35 assists is Declining
He is 22 yr old coming off year in which he struggled ,, It happens
The push by some to declare his career over and trade him makes no sense
Also Matt Murray blows and is not worth any quality assets via trade at this point and certainly wont be worth $$ he wants on contract
The irony in your rationale is humorous.
"DeBrincat had a down year!"
*Murray has one* - Murray blows!
Hypocrisy, be thy name.
The usual HF rationale with stuff like this - Our team likely needs said player, let me now devalue him to his entire fan base, insulting everyone's intelligence and then act like my team doesn't need that player (when it desperately does since there's literally nothing from within that sniffs like a starter)...
Looks about right, within this thread.
So the options are either trying to hope Lehner comes back (lol, yeah right) or a bunch of goalies 30+ years or older, that might be a stop gap for 2-3yrs before they are done, or a 26yr old goalie that had some down times to start each season, rebounds, then has issues in front of him with his team and his game. Murray has struggled, yeah, but there's proof, very damn good proof, that when he's on his game, he's an elite goalie, I think he's one of those guys that when he's finally traded and now has "his team"...he'll thrive again. There were issues in Pittsburgh for him after the 2nd cup, the Fleury stuff that got into his head, his father passing, his injuries, he's basically just lost his mojo there and a change of scenery is best for both sides, it doesn't mean he sucks though. Beyond ridiculous anyone jumps to that notion and this coming from one of Murray's biggest critics on the Pens board.
Then there's literally the track record for goalies - Age 26-30 is when a lot of goalies "figure it out" and get to their game. Murray peaked super early, then had some struggles, one in which he lost his biggest supporter and family member - His Father.
Look at MAF, he lost his Dad and his whole season went away from him, he needed more time and the VGK traded for Lehner later than they should have, now they have their own goalie controversy.
It's...it's like losing a very close loved one....has some severe impact or something.