"Detroit has been seen as the logical landing spot for Alex DeBrincat by some — and Detroit was on his list of teams — but my sense of the situation Tuesday was the Red Wings didn’t feel they were that close on a deal with Ottawa. I know DeBrincat had Dallas as one of his preferred destinations, as well, and the Stars have had conversations with Ottawa about DeBrincat. But given the Stars’ cap situation, they would need to move money out somehow. It’s not likely the Stars can do it. They’re also still talking to pending UFA Max Domi.
As I reported last week, Sens GM Pierre Dorion is fine with a 2024 first-round pick, so he never viewed this week as the deadline for a DeBrincat trade. There’s still time.
But again keep in mind that whatever team wants to trade for DeBrincat, an accomplished goal scorer who’s only 25 years old, he’s going to cost $8.5 million to $9 million a year on an extension. Again, cap space is a problem right now almost everywhere. That’s partly why this trade hasn’t been that easy to pull off so far."
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that's not a bidding war. that's "there have been no bids that include a first round pick."