Looking like a lot of noise in the bushes. Debrincat and Branstrom are not listed on the team’s website. Perhaps a bigger deal is in the works?
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Not sure if you're referencing a different source, but DeBrincat and Brannstrom are both listed on the NHL.com/Senators site... as are Korpisalo, Hamonic, and MacEwan. The interesting omission is Bernard-Docker, given that Kleven is listed on the roster page.

Do we know term / cost? I've been hearing alot of this too, but his age makes me wary conisdering it could be a long term deal.
- david22

I’m with you…unsure of the demands. He’s got the same agent as Giroux. I’m assuming the cost will be over 5. I’m thinking if it’s a 1yr we’d be looking around 6, and 2yr a lower AAV (maybe 5.5).

I get the injuries and all but all we’re giving up is cap and he is still an effective goal scorer..I have no doubt he’d put the points up with this team. The guys won a cup and has performed in the playoffs as well.

With concerning Detroit....

I fee that Dominik Kubalik plus any two of Jonatan Berggren, Noah Dower-Nilsson, Liam Dower-Nilsson, Velano or Solderblum gets it done.

Kubalik is the key for me - Sens need a roster player to play wing in this deal.

We can throw in one of Formenton, Thomoson, Kelly, Boucher, Joseph, to help make it happen.

Tyler Kleven won the hardest-working player award at the summer prospect development camp. It's really only a matter of time before they have to carve out a roster spot for this guy... he's a borderline perfect young 3rd-pairing D-man for a coach like DJ Smith.

Not sure if you're referencing a different source, but DeBrincat and Brannstrom are both listed on the NHL.com/Senators site... as are Korpisalo, Hamonic, and MacEwan. The interesting omission is Bernard-Docker, given that Kleven is listed on the roster page.
- khawk

Was just referencing Twitter. Lots of tweets about it.

Likely web errors.

With concerning Detroit....

I fee that Dominik Kubalik plus any two of Jonatan Berggren, Noah Dower-Nilsson, Liam Dower-Nilsson, Velano or Solderblum gets it done.

Kubalik is the key for me - Sens need a roster player to play wing in this deal.

We can throw in one of Formenton, Thomoson, Kelly, Boucher, Joseph, to help make it happen.
- GrimmdaGoalie

There is no way in hell Yzerman wants any part of Formenton. Nobody is touching that guy unless he is cleared of any wrongdoing and even then most teams would probably avoid him.

Thomson is interesting but the Wings already have too many defensemen so one would have to go back.

Kelly is a dime a dozen vanilla 4th liner, you can sign them every summer for nothing. Wings already have enough 4th liners.

Joseph like i said previously is not liked by Wings players and is overpaid worst than Zadina was.

If Yzerman gave up Kubalik and Berggren/Soderblom for Debrincat, he needs to be fired. 7 goals, 21 point difference between Kubalik and Debrincat last season. Kubalik is bigger, cheaper and better defensively.

I said it at the start of last season that i liked getting Kubalik for nothing but a cheap contract a hell of a lot more than the Sens getting Debrincat for the price they paid in assets and the cost of re-signing that guy.

There is no way in hell Yzerman wants any part of Formenton. Nobody is touching that guy unless he is cleared of any wrongdoing and even then most teams would probably avoid him.

Thomson is interesting but the Wings already have too many defensemen so one would have to go back.

Kelly is a dime a dozen vanilla 4th liner, you can sign them every summer for nothing. Wings already have enough 4th liners.

Joseph like i said previously is not liked by Wings players and is overpaid worst than Zadina was.

If Yzerman gave up Kubalik and Berggren/Soderblom for Debrincat, he needs to be fired. 7 goals, 21 point difference between Kubalik and Debrincat last season. Kubalik is bigger, cheaper and better defensively.

I said it at the start of last season that i liked getting Kubalik for nothing but a cheap contract a hell of a lot more than the Sens getting Debrincat for the price they paid in assets and the cost of re-signing that guy.
- dcz28

Only reason I mention Kubalik is that he isn't one of the top 4 forwards and he has a reasonable contract.

I think that the only thing holding a deal involving debrincat is that he wants to go only where he wants to go and wants to get paid Timo Meier money, and Dorion wants players, not picks.

If it was just for picks, I think this would be done already....Nashville makes sense in this way.

Only reason I mention Kubalik is that he isn't one of the top 4 forwards and he has a reasonable contract.

I think that the only thing holding a deal involving debrincat is that he wants to go only where he wants to go and wants to get paid Timo Meier money, and Dorion wants players, not picks.

If it was just for picks, I think this would be done already....Nashville makes sense in this way.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Nashville needs to keep their picks and rebuild. They have Forsberg, O'Reilly and Nyquist at forward and the rest looks like crap. O'Reilly isn't young and neither is Nyquist. They should be tearing it down and rebuilding. They could get some nice prospects and draft picks from selling Forsberg, Josi and Saros and maybe a few others but those are the main guys that would bring back something decent. They already have a couple of decent prospects in their system but not enough to build around yet.

Dorion needs to shop Debrincat to any team that wants him not just the teams he is willing to sign long term with. He likely won't get a great return (not close to what he paid) but that is the price he paid for a 1 or 2 year rental. Take the best deal even if it isn't a team that is on his list. His agent even said it, that they can send him anywhere and he has no say on where he goes. Clearly the teams that Debrincat would sign with are not offering the return Dorion wants and/or they want nothing to do with the contract Debrincat wants.

Nashville needs to keep their picks and rebuild. They have Forsberg, O'Reilly and Nyquist at forward and the rest looks like crap. O'Reilly isn't young and neither is Nyquist. They should be tearing it down and rebuilding. They could get some nice prospects and draft picks from selling Forsberg, Josi and Saros and maybe a few others but those are the main guys that would bring back something decent. They already have a couple of decent prospects in their system but not enough to build around yet.

Dorion needs to shop Debrincat to any team that wants him not just the teams he is willing to sign long term with. He likely won't get a great return (not close to what he paid) but that is the price he paid for a 1 or 2 year rental. Take the best deal even if it isn't a team that is on his list. His agent even said it, that they can send him anywhere and he has no say on where he goes. Clearly the teams that Debrincat would sign with are not offering the return Dorion wants and/or they want nothing to do with the contract Debrincat wants.
- dcz28

Dorion needs to stay patient. It will get done. Likely a 3 way. Yzerman is not very good. The game has passed him by. I don't believe he is capable of finishing a deal like this.

On the other hand, anyone giving Debrincat a $9m long term pay day will come to regret the decision.

Dorion needs to stay patient. It will get done. Likely a 3 way. Yzerman is not very good. The game has passed him by. I don't believe he is capable of finishing a deal like this.

On the other hand, anyone giving Debrincat a $9m long term pay day will come to regret the decision.
- spatso

Can't say that i agree with every move Yzerman does but why do you think he's not very good, that the game has passed him by and that he isn't capable of making a trade?

Good point about the other heavy weights being signed, I had forgotten that.
- david22

There's an outside chance Boko Imama plays up in the NHL next year as well if we need a other player to drop gloves, Sens are set in the grit department now Watson is gone.

Can't say that i agree with every move Yzerman does but why do you think he's not very good, that the game has passed him by and that he isn't capable of making a trade?
- dcz28

Yzerman has made some very questionable FA signings. He built Tampa through the draft, but appears to be trying to fast track Detroit. He's gotta be more careful with the term he's handing out. Chiarot, Copp, now Compher, Holl - he's starting to look like Lou.

Can't say that i agree with every move Yzerman does but why do you think he's not very good, that the game has passed him by and that he isn't capable of making a trade?
- dcz28

Teams that have gone deep into the playoffs have size and grit. Wings are a soft team. DeBrincat only continues the pattern. I believe Yzerman has a vision for an elite skilled team. I don't think it works in the NHL today.

I don't believe Ottawa intended to sign a long term deal with DeBrincat. They do not have the cap space and somebody needs to go. You would think someone in the Wings organization would step up and tell Yzerman that DeBrincat does not answer there need and a big long term contract can only get worse.

Yzerman has made some very questionable FA signings. He built Tampa through the draft, but appears to be trying to fast track Detroit. He's gotta be more careful with the term he's handing out. Chiarot, Copp, now Compher, Holl - he's starting to look like Lou.
- Bartacus

Only guy he has gone longer than 5 years is Larkin. I don't really like any of those 4 contracts you mentioned but i don't think this is meant to fast track anything. This is more Yzerman trying to keep them somewhat competitive so that the young players aren't in a losing environment as much while having some decent vets to learn from. Just buying some time for the prospects instead of rushing them into roles they are not ready for. The trade deadline proved (and he said as much) that the Wings are still rebuilding.

Personally i wanted Zadorov but he signed Chiarot. I wanted Malkin not Copp but Malkin re-signed with the Pens so he had no chance. I wanted Duchene but he signed Compher. I wanted Luke Schenn but he signed Holl. All the guys i wanted aside from Malkin signed for less money and term. I'm ok with the other signings he did though.

Yzerman is pretty good with trades so not sure why you would say he can't get this done. It will only get done if he gets what he wants for what he wants. He's not under any pressure to deal for Debrincat and i personally hope he doesn't.

Teams that have gone deep into the playoffs have size and grit. Wings are a soft team. DeBrincat only continues the pattern. I believe Yzerman has a vision for an elite skilled team. I don't think it works in the NHL today.

I don't believe Ottawa intended to sign a long term deal with DeBrincat. They do not have the cap space and somebody needs to go. You would think someone in the Wings organization would step up and tell Yzerman that DeBrincat does not answer there need and a big long term contract can only get worse.
- spatso

If you look at the players Yzerman drafts, his vision is for a big mobile team. They rarely draft players under 6 feet tall especially defensemen. Big, good skater, work ethic and guys that don't have character issues is what the Wings go after in the draft. They passed on a much more skilled small player like Benson to draft a bigger RHC in Danielson. They did take Axel Sandin Pellikka with their 2nd first rounder and he's 5'11 , 175 pounds. 2 of their 3 2nd round picks were 6'3-6'4 defensemen. Edvinsson is 6'6, Soderblom is 6'8, Kasper is 6'1, Wallinder is 6'4, Tuomisto is 6'4, Buium is 6'3.

Wings will have plenty of size once some of these prospect (if they make it) start getting into the lineup. Still don't want the smurf Debrincat though.

Only guy he has gone longer than 5 years is Larkin. I don't really like any of those 4 contracts you mentioned but i don't think this is meant to fast track anything. This is more Yzerman trying to keep them somewhat competitive so that the young players aren't in a losing environment as much while having some decent vets to learn from. Just buying some time for the prospects instead of rushing them into roles they are not ready for. The trade deadline proved (and he said as much) that the Wings are still rebuilding.

Personally i wanted Zadorov but he signed Chiarot. I wanted Malkin not Copp but Malkin re-signed with the Pens so he had no chance. I wanted Duchene but he signed Compher. I wanted Luke Schenn but he signed Holl. All the guys i wanted aside from Malkin signed for less money and term. I'm ok with the other signings he did though.

Yzerman is pretty good with trades so not sure why you would say he can't get this done. It will only get done if he gets what he wants for what he wants. He's not under any pressure to deal for Debrincat and i personally hope he doesn't.
- dcz28

Because getting it done is the problem. He is getting played.

Dorion does not have the cap space to sign DeBrincat. He could conjure something up for this year but with Sanderson and Chychrun to be signed next year he cannot go beyond a year. DeBrincat is Ottawa's 4th leading scorer. If he plays this year in Ottawa (not likely) he probably ends up as the 5th leading scorer when Norris returns. Who makes their 5th leading scorer their top paid player on an 8 year deal?

If you look at the players Yzerman drafts, his vision is for a big mobile team. They rarely draft players under 6 feet tall especially defensemen. Big, good skater, work ethic and guys that don't have character issues is what the Wings go after in the draft. They passed on a much more skilled small player like Benson to draft a bigger RHC in Danielson. They did take Axel Sandin Pellikka with their 2nd first rounder and he's 5'11 , 175 pounds. 2 of their 3 2nd round picks were 6'3-6'4 defensemen. Edvinsson is 6'6, Soderblom is 6'8, Kasper is 6'1, Wallinder is 6'4, Tuomisto is 6'4, Buium is 6'3.

Wings will have plenty of size once some of these prospect (if they make it) start getting into the lineup. Still don't want the smurf Debrincat though.
- dcz28

NHL has a history of little guys putting up great regular season numbers. More often than not they struggle to lead their teams deep into the playoffs. It is not good enough to sprinkle size through your line up. You need big, hard players leading you into battle. People will give lots of examples of little guys who had great years and even great playoffs. But, you are playing with fire when you choose to make a little guy your top paid player on an 8 year deal.

Because getting it done is the problem. He is getting played.

Dorion does not have the cap space to sign DeBrincat. He could conjure something up for this year but with Sanderson and Chychrun to be signed next year he cannot go beyond a year. DeBrincat is Ottawa's 4th leading scorer. If he plays this year in Ottawa (not likely) he probably ends up as the 5th leading scorer when Norris returns. Who makes their 5th leading scorer their top paid player on an 8 year deal?
- spatso

I think you’re selling Cat short. Some people seem to be forgetting this guy hit a kazillion posts/crossbars during the season. If half of those go in, he’s probably the 2nd leading goal scorer on the team behind Tim.

We also have to be realistic with Giroux, assuming he’d be able to replicate the season he had is wishful thinking. Norris we really don’t know what we’re getting…but I’m setting my expectations a bit lower then most.

If Cat stayed with the Sens, I’d bet he’d score closer to 40 then 27 this time around.

Anybody heard any updates on DeBrincat rumors ? It will be interesting to see how that plays out. Not sure if Yzerman is playing hardball and ready to walk away from the deal. Or it may be the term of contract the Debrincat team is seeking. I don't see Yzerman doing more than a 5 or 6 year deal tops.... I only want Debrincat if both his salary and term comes down a fair amount. Other teams have not been interested and won't pony up. We'll see what happens.

Who makes their 5th leading scorer their top paid player on an 8 year deal?
- spatso

^^^^^this^^^^^

All of it, actually, but especially this part for BOTH Sens and Detroit.

Also this from the Red Wings guy on HB:

"....teams aren’t putting an 8 million value on Debrincat, and it sounds like max term may not be on the table."

If Debrinicat is smart, he comes back to the Sens for one year and shoots ALL the time and gets his goal total back up over 30 and THEN cashes in. Doesn't help his situation now and it will make him impossible to trade mid season if the Sens are near a playoff race but he will get 8million next year when the cap goes up.

I love this fallacy we cling to that smaller players can't lead their team to a Stanley Cup, or if they do it is like a unicorn event.

All these guys are under 6 feet tall ....

Kucherov, Brayden Point, St. Louis, Patrick Kane, Coleman, Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson, Syd Crosby, Guentzel, Patrick Hornqvist, Richards, Grant Fuhr, Dave Hunter ......... the lists go on and on. And half the guys listed at 6 feet are probably shorter then that. Just little white lies on their stats sheets to help their brand. Oh, and maybe mention Jonathan Marchessault the latest playoff MVP at 5ft 9in.

It is a fallacy perpetuated by the hockey analyst talking heads and bloggers everywhere.

NHL has a history of little guys putting up great regular season numbers. More often than not they struggle to lead their teams deep into the playoffs. It is not good enough to sprinkle size through your line up. You need big, hard players leading you into battle. People will give lots of examples of little guys who had great years and even great playoffs. But, you are playing with fire when you choose to make a little guy your top paid player on an 8 year deal.
- spatso

Yzerman and company have been drafting bigger & mobile players the last few years (as pointed out by dcz28). The Wings will have plenty of size in the next year or two. Those top prospects will soon be in Detroit and will have an impact. They also just gutted and replaced several of their bottom six who were smaller and less skilled with bigger, tougher and more skilled players. Kostin and Fischer should add some much needed grit and sandpaper this team was lacking. Getting Rasmussen back from injury will help as well who was having a career season before his injury.

Because getting it done is the problem. He is getting played.

Dorion does not have the cap space to sign DeBrincat. He could conjure something up for this year but with Sanderson and Chychrun to be signed next year he cannot go beyond a year. DeBrincat is Ottawa's 4th leading scorer. If he plays this year in Ottawa (not likely) he probably ends up as the 5th leading scorer when Norris returns. Who makes their 5th leading scorer their top paid player on an 8 year deal?
- spatso

As far as i know Yzerman hasn't traded for Debrincat and given him a 8 year contract so how is he getting played? Yzerman obviously doesn't like the Sens ask for Debrincat and/or his contract demands or else a deal would have been made already.

One thing we do know is that Yzerman trades don't usually end up in the media before it happens which gives me hope that he really has no interest in Debrincat and all this is made up by the media because Detroit was on his list. Would not be surprised if the Wings make a trade and it has nothing to do with Debrincat but some other player the media had not talked about moving at all...that is usually how Yzerman operates.

NHL has a history of little guys putting up great regular season numbers. More often than not they struggle to lead their teams deep into the playoffs. It is not good enough to sprinkle size through your line up. You need big, hard players leading you into battle. People will give lots of examples of little guys who had great years and even great playoffs. But, you are playing with fire when you choose to make a little guy your top paid player on an 8 year deal.
- spatso

I think Yzerman has a pretty good idea of what a cup winning team looks like. It's fine having some smaller players as long as they are skilled enough and willing to battle through more crap in the playoffs when the refs let more stuff go. Guys like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom and Kronwall weren't the biggest guys but they still got the job done when it mattered.

I think Yzerman has a pretty good idea of what a cup winning team looks like. It's fine having some smaller players as long as they are skilled enough and willing to battle through more crap in the playoffs when the refs let more stuff go. Guys like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom and Kronwall weren't the biggest guys but they still got the job done when it mattered.
- dcz28

Exactly. As long as a team has a mix of large and small guys they are fine. + with guys like Probert and McCarty, Maltby, et al patrolling to keep things in check.