Flyers In Pursuit of Alex DeBrincat

With the NHL draft this week and free agency another week away, it’s rumor time in the NHL. One of the hottest rumors starting to spread is that the Chicago Blackhawks, looking to rebuild and retool, are looking to shop one of its bright stars, Alex DeBrincat. It is also rumored that the Flyers are kicking the tires on this. What would it cost to bring DeBrincat to Philly? It is worth it? Let’s take a look.

DeBrincat is currently 24 years old. He was a second round draft pick in 2016 and hit the ground running in the 2017-18 season, scoring 28 goals and tallying 24 assists. This past season, he notched 41 goals for the second time in his career while having a career high of 78 points. He is also on the final year of his contract before he becomes an RFA. He is also two years from becoming an UFA.

He is no doubt looking to get paid. Out of the 2016 draft class, only Patrik Laine, Matthew Tkachuk, and Auston Matthews have scored more than DeBrincat. That’s really good company to be in.

He’s also one of the smaller players in the league. He stands at 5’7″ and weighs in at 165 pounds. And much like Cam Atkinson, he can be streaky; scoring in spurts and then going silent for a while. But he’s 24 and is scoring, regularly, 25+ goals a year (four out of his five seasons).

The Flyers could certainly use a catch like DeBrincat. And if the free agency rumors are true that they may make a push for Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau, the pair of these two could immediately catapult the Flyers to playoff contender. But what would it cost?

For a team looking to rebuild, the Blackhawks would want a lot in return.  It also appears that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane really like playing with DeBrincat. So, if the Hawks were to part ways with him, the haul would have to be significant enough if they want to keep their two iconic players happy and in town.

I would say that this year’s fifth overall pick is likely the starting point. A package of other picks could come as well. Since the Flyers don’t have a second rounder this year, maybe another pick from this year could be tossed in as well as well as next year’s first or second rounder. It could be that one or both of 2024 first rounders, counting the pick from the Giroux trade could also be on the table.

It may take more than just picks. Maybe the Blackhawks would covet one of the Flyers prospects. Could Cam York, Noah Cates, Wade Allison, Elliott Desnoyers, Bobby Brink, Egor Zamula, or Tyson Foerster be in on the mix? Could a young, but struggling player like Morgan Frost or Owen Tippett be acceptable to them? After all, the Blackhawks took a young Patrick Sharp and turned him into an all-star.

Would a more seasoned player be acceptable to the Blackhawks? Would they want a younger stud like Ivan Provorov or a steady vet like JVR? Would Travis Konecny, Oskar Lindblom, or Travis Sanheim interest them?

The Blackhawks also have no first round picks until 2024 after last year’s trades to acquire Marc-Andre Fleury and Seth Jones. They will want to restock their farm system as well as get someone in return who is ready to go.

Another consideration is who else might be making an offer. Rumors are that the New Jersey Devils are sniffing around DeBrincat as well. They also have a high draft pick and young assets that could appeal to Chicago. A bidding war between the Flyers and Devils could drive the price up. And if the Devils were to acquire him, that could be bad news for Flyers fans.

We know that the Flyers have made an offer. What that offer is has yet to be revealed. I myself would offer up this years first round pick, next year’s second rounder, and the higher of the two 2024 picks. I would also being willing to part with Frost and Lindblom or Tippett and one of the prospects listed above.

The Flyers can’t afford to mortgage their entire future for him, but if he can be had at a reasonable price, then they should do what they can to acquire him. And if they can pair him up with a marquee free agent like Gaudreau, the fortunes of this franchise can turn around pretty quickly.