Alex DeBrincat, the subject of intense trade speculation this offseason, is headed home to join the Detroit Red Wings.

Detroit extended the 25-year-old sniper immediately after acquiring him in a splashy swap with the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night. DeBrincat's new four-year contract counts for $7.875 million against the salary cap.

In return, Ottawa received veteran forward Dominik Kubalik, prospect defenseman Donovan Sebrango, a 2024 conditional first-round draft pick, and a 2024 fourth-rounder.

The Red Wings will choose which 2024 first-rounder - either theirs or the Boston Bruins' selection, previously acquired for Tyler Bertuzzi - is part of the deal. One caveat: The Bruins could opt to keep their pick if it's in the top 10, at which point Boston's unprotected 2025 first-rounder would be on the table.

Let's evaluate the blockbuster move from both sides.

Red Wings

Until Sunday, Detroit lacked elite attacking talent. This franchise has starved for offense throughout its seven-year playoff drought. The Red Wings haven't finished higher than 22nd in NHL scoring since 2015, back when DeBrincat and Connor McDavid lit up Ontario Hockey League goaltending as Erie Otters teammates.

DeBrincat excels alongside superstars. He racked up 160 goals in five seasons - 32 per year - with the Chicago Blackhawks as Patrick Kane's frequent linemate. Last season, he barely got to play with skilled centers Tim Stutzle (Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux were the Senators' top wingers) or Josh Norris (who injured his shoulder and sat out all but eight games).

DeBrincat's stats slipped in Ottawa. He scored 27 goals on a shooting percentage of 10.3%, well below his 15.5% average in Chicago. He also regressed defensively: The Sens were outscored 58-42 in DeBrincat's five-on-five minutes, per Natural Stat Trick.

Sensing an opportunity, the Red Wings capitalized. General manager Steve Yzerman reeled in a proven sniper from the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills to complement Dylan Larkin on the top line.

The cost of landing and extending DeBrincat was modest. His average annual value is substantially lower than Larkin's $8.7-million cap hit, not to mention the $8.8-million AAV that Timo Meier just procured from the New Jersey Devils.

His contract projects to be team-friendly. If DeBrincat shoots as often as he did in Ottawa and his success rate normalizes, he'll be the first Wings player to flirt with 40 goals since Marian Hossa buried that many in 2009. Even in a down year, DeBrincat's 11 power-play tallies ranked in the top 30 league-wide. His presence on the PP will divert attention from Larkin and elevate the whole first unit.

DeBrincat isn't solely a triggerman. He shone as a playmaker in 2022-23, dishing a career-best 39 assists. He also remained aspirationally durable. DeBrincat has never been injured in the NHL, only missing four games during the 2020-21 season when he was placed in COVID-19 protocol.

His arrival boosts the Red Wings now and for years to come. DeBrincat is the fifth NHL forward Yzerman's brought in this month, joining J.T. Compher, Christian Fischer, Klim Kostin, and Daniel Sprong. Like Larkin, he'll continue to produce at a high clip as Detroit's most promising young forwards, from Lucas Raymond to Jonatan Berggren to prospects Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson, mature into difference-makers.

Three Atlantic Division up-and-comers - the Buffalo Sabres, Red Wings, and Senators - are stuck in the league's longest playoff skids. The Wings have the lowest offensive ceiling of the bunch. Adding DeBrincat narrows that gap and makes next season's Detroit-Ottawa showdowns (four between Oct. 21 and Jan. 31) extremely compelling.

Grade: A-

Senators

On July 7, 2022, the Senators dealt the No. 7 and No. 39 picks in last year's draft, plus a 2024 third-rounder, to nab DeBrincat from the Blackhawks as Chicago's roster teardown started.

Here and now, the Sens recoup a lesser winger in Kubalik (incidentally, a former Blackhawk), AHL defensive depth in Sebrango (incidentally, an Ottawa native), and worse draft capital. Trading the best player involved is a surefire way to lose a deal. It's doubly painful to sell low on DeBrincat to a division rival and possible future playoff opponent.

Still, the move was sensible. GM Pierre Dorion created cap relief and can now focus on balancing and deepening the forward corps.

Ottawa has inked Stutzle, Tkachuk, Norris, and Thomas Chabot to long-term pacts in the $8-million range. Defensive linchpins Jake Sanderson and Jakob Chychrun could command that coin pretty soon. DeBrincat returning would have made it tough to sign RFA Shane Pinto, the club's third-line center, and would have stopped the Senators from enhancing their forward depth, a weakness last season.

Pending UFA Kubalik, twice a 20-goal scorer, makes $2.5 million against the cap. Ottawa can slot him beside Pinto and have money left over to take a swing at Vladimir Tarasenko, the most coveted free agent currently on the market. Strengthened by upgrades on the blue line (Chychrun) and in net (Joonas Korpisalo), the Sens will be fine next season if they can replicate DeBrincat's production collectively.

Notably, the Sens now possess three 2024 fourth-rounders: theirs, Detroit's, and a Tampa Bay Lightning pick acquired in the Mathieu Joseph-Nick Paul swap. Using one as a sweetener to offload Joseph's $2.95-million contract could open space to sign Tarasenko, who bagged 34 goals and 82 points as recently as 2021-22.

Meanwhile, Ottawa owns multiple picks in a first round for the first time since 2020 when Dorion drafted Stutzle, Sanderson, and Ridly Greig. They'll be able to replenish the prospect pool - another organizational need - even if both selections fall late in the round.

The Senators failed to get the most out of DeBrincat but still ice four recent 35-goal scorers: Stutzle, Tkachuk, Norris, and Giroux, the last acquisition left from the fabled Summer of Dorion. They didn't compel Yzerman to part with a young star or Detroit's top '24 first-rounder, but they won't need to shop DeBrincat at the trade deadline - potentially in the midst of a playoff push - to avoid losing him for nothing next summer.

Since DeBrincat wouldn't sign in Ottawa long term, an awkward outcome was inevitable. This solution is somewhat elegant.

Grade: B-

Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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The Detroit Red Wings secured Alex DeBrincat in a trade with the Ottawa Senators and then signed him to a four-year pact carrying an average annual value of $7.875 million, the acquiring club announced Sunday.

Ottawa sent DeBrincat to Detroit for forward Dominik Kubalik, defenseman Donovan Sebrango, a conditional first-round pick in next year's draft, and a fourth-rounder in the same event.

DeBrincat was arguably the top remaining restricted free agent and would've been eligible to become a UFA next summer.

Last week, DeBrincat's agent Jeff Jackson denied a report that his client's contract demands were holding up a trade.

The 25-year-old winger is a two-time 41-goal scorer who produced 27 tallies and a career-high 39 assists in 2022-23, his first season with the Senators. Ottawa had reportedly been gauging the trade market for DeBrincat since early June. The Sens took him to arbitration shortly thereafter, and he required a $9-million qualifying offer.

Ottawa acquired the Michigan-born forward from the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2022 draft in exchange for three picks, including the seventh overall selection, which the Blackhawks used to select defenseman Kevin Korchinski.

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The Vancouver Canucks signed restricted free-agent forward Nils Hoglander to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.1 million, the team announced Sunday.

Hoglander showed plenty of promise during his rookie campaign in 2020-21, accruing 13 goals and 14 assists in 56 games as a 20-year-old. He's been trending in the wrong direction, though, producing the same numbers in 85 contests since.

The Canucks selected the 5-foot-9 winger out of Sweden with the 40th overall pick in 2019.

Hoglander is without a defined role entering the 2023-24 campaign due to the Canucks' ample depth on the wings. Brock Boeser, Andrei Kuzmenko, Conor Garland, Ilya Mikheyev, and Anthony Beauvillier are all guaranteed of spots due to their sizeable cap hits. Hoglander will have to compete for a job out of the gate with the likes of Vasily Podkolzin, Vitali Kravtsov, Dakota Joshua, and others.

If Hoglander begins the year in the AHL, the 22-year-old will look to build off a strong stint with the Abbotsford Canucks where he tallied 14 goals and 18 assists in 45 contests a year ago.

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The NHL's free-agent hot stove is basically unplugged at this point of the summer, but there's still plenty of talent available on the open market.

Below, we play matchmaker for 10 of the best players currently unsigned.

Vladimir Tarasenko

📊 2022-23 stats: 69 GP, 18 G, 32 A
💰 Previous cap hit: $7.5M
🧩 Best fit: Ottawa Senators

The Senators are seemingly in limbo until they find a solution for Alex DeBrincat. If Ottawa trades the two-time 40-goal man as expected, Tarasenko would be an excellent replacement. The veteran winger is the top goal-scorer still on the market and could come close to replicating DeBrincat's offense in the Sens' top six at a reduced cost. Tarasenko's 2.6 points per 60 minutes were slightly better than DeBrincat's last season, and the 31-year-old choosing Ottawa could be big for morale in the dressing room when it's clear DeBrincat wants out.

Keeping term down is the key to making this deal a win for the Senators, but there's a clear fit here at the right price.

Patrick Kane

📊 2022-23 stats: 73 GP, 21 G, 36 A
💰 Previous cap hit: $10.5M
🧩 Best fit: Buffalo Sabres

Kane underwent hip resurfacing surgery on June 1 and was given a four-to-six-month timeline. Given that his recovery could cut into the season's first quarter, Kane might not sign until autumn. Teams may want to see how his rehab is going considering Nicklas Backstrom underwent the same surgery during the 2022 offseason and didn't look quite like himself this past campaign. Kane might also want a better idea of the standings before he commits to signing with a club.

But if the Sabres get off to a solid start, it'll be awfully tempting for Kane, a Buffalo native, to sign with his hometown team. They're an ascending club with $6.7 million in projected cap space. And while Buffalo bolstered its blue line in free agency, it didn't add a single player up front. Sure, the Sabres' forward group is deep with young talent, but they could still use a veteran presence who can elevate their offensive attack. Imagine Kane setting up Tage Thompson on the power play - that'd be fun.

Tomas Tatar

📊 2022-23 stats: 82 GP 20 G, 28 A
💰 Previous cap hit: $4.5M
🧩 Best fit: Nashville Predators

Tatar has bounced around plenty since his seven-year tenure in Detroit ended in 2018. However, he's proven to be a serviceable depth winger at each stop along the way. The 32-year-old is still a 20-goal threat and boasts impressive defensive metrics to boost his stock. Nashville looks to be embarking on a full-scale rebuild and is sorely lacking talent up front. Signing Tatar would make the Predators just a little bit deeper. If they can lure him to Music City on a one-year deal, it would be tidy business to flip him at the 2024 trade deadline.

Mathew Dumba

📊 2022-23 stats: 79 GP, 4 G, 10 A
💰 Previous cap hit: $6M
🧩 Best fit: San Jose Sharks

Dumba got squeezed out of the right-handed defense market. Seemingly every contender looking to bolster the right side of its blue line already addressed the need on Day 1 of free agency. It's understandable considering injuries have slowed Dumba in recent years. Also, 2021-22 represented his least productive campaign (on a per-game basis) since he played 13 contests as a 19-year-old in 2013-14.

But if Dumba is looking to rebuild his value, potentially get traded at the deadline, and then cash in next offseason, San Jose could be a perfect landing spot. Matt Benning is the Sharks' top right-handed defense option behind Erik Karlsson, so there's plenty of room for opportunity. If Karlsson gets traded, Dumba immediately becomes the club's No. 1 D. San Jose still has some firepower up front with Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl, setting the table for Dumba to put up some points.

Jonathan Toews

📊 2022-23 stats: 53 GP, 15 G, 16 A
💰 Previous cap hit: $10.5M
🧩 Best fit: Edmonton Oilers

"So if it's not a hell yeah, then it's a hell no," Toews said in April about continuing his NHL career. The uncertainty surrounding his health is a huge caveat, but we think the Oilers are an excellent match if Toews opts not to retire. There's a clear fit on the depth chart, with Ryan McLeod and Lane Pederson currently listed as Edmonton's third- and fourth-line centers. Additionally, with over $115 million in estimated career earnings, Toews doesn't need to stretch the tight Oilers' salary cap constraints. Above all else, Toews is a serial winner. His pedigree could go a long way for a team trying its hardest to win a championship.

Jesse Puljujarvi

📊 2022-23 stats: 75 GP, 5 G, 11 A
💰 Previous cap hit: $3M
🧩 Best fit: Arizona Coyotes

As the 2017 No. 4 pick, Puljujarvi's game was always under the microscope in a passionate Canadian market like Edmonton. After a deadline deal to Carolina, he couldn't carve out a clear role on a deep Hurricanes squad.

Puljujarvi needs an opportunity to play a regular middle-six forward role for a team far away from the spotlight, making Arizona the perfect landing spot. The rebuilding Coyotes have plenty of room for Puljujarvi to play big minutes and help regain his confidence. Arizona is slowly trying to improve, and Puljujarvi is a strong defensive player, even if his offense has lagged. If he can finally break through offensively, both sides could benefit greatly.

Denis Gurianov

📊 2022-23 stats: 66 GP, 7 G, 10 A
💰 Previous cap hit: $2.9M
🧩 Best fit: Calgary Flames

The Flames are looking to reignite their offense, and Gurianov is a versatile winger who can play either side of the ice while bringing top-end speed. He struggled to produce last season in Dallas and Montreal but was a solid depth contributor for three campaigns beforehand. It would be a low-risk, high-reward move for Calgary, which only has nine forwards signed to its NHL roster at the moment.

Ethan Bear

📊 2022-23 stats: 61 GP, 3 A, 13 A
💰 Previous cap hit: $2.2M
🧩 Best fit: Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks have one of the worst blue lines in the league. They added Radko Gudas to play a shutdown role on the right side, so Bear could be a nice fit on a different pairing to help transport the puck up ice. Plus, with fellow righty Jamie Drysdale coming off a major shoulder injury, limiting his workload wouldn't be the worst idea. For Bear, there are worse things than playing consistent minutes on a team in sunny California.

Pius Suter

📊 2022-23 stats: 79 GP, 14 G, 10 A
💰 Previous cap hit: $3.25M
🧩 Best fit: Vancouver Canucks

Suter's offensive numbers don't jump off the page. But the 27-year-old dominates defensively at five-on-five, and his contributions could help the Canucks cut down on goals against in a big way. He's an upgrade over Vancouver's current bottom-six options down the middle and is unlikely to get a raise from his previous salary after going this long without signing. The Canucks would have to clear money to make it work, but Suter is a player they should have circled from the start of free agency.

Max Comtois

📊 2022-23 stats: 64 GP, 9 G, 10 A
💰 Previous cap hit: $2.04M
🧩 Best fit: Minnesota Wild

The Wild still have some pressing business to handle, notably new deals for restricted free agents Filip Gustavsson, Calen Addison, and Brandon Duhaime. But the team should still have the flexibility to make an addition up front, and Comtois could be an interesting buy-low option.

General manager Bill Guerin seems to covet the type of power forward like Comtois. He scored 16 goals in 55 games in 2020-21, signaling the 24-year-old still has untapped potential. With Minnesota's tight cap situation, its forward depth is thin enough that there's an opening for him to come in and compete for a middle-six role.

(Cap source: CapFriendly)

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