DeBrincat to NY Islanders Rumors Heating Up

As players fly off to the board on the first day of free agency, the rumor mill continues to swirl around potential NY Islanders target Alex DeBrincat. The 25-year-old winger has expressed no interest in extending his contract with the Ottawa Senators, with the team searching for a potential trade partner.

Lou Lamoriello and Isles continue to work the phones, with Newday's Andrew Gross reporting a potential deal between the Isles and Ottawa could see former Senators center and Ottawa native JG Pageau head back to Canada's capital city.

While the Senators haven't yet found a destination for their disgruntled winger, the organization remains in search of an offer that would constitute them offloading a player they recently traded for. Acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks amid a total rebuild, Senators GM Pierre Dorion parted with a first and second-round pick in 2022 and a third-round pick in 2023. After paying such a price for a high-level winger, Dorion would like to recoup some of the assets he parted with just a year ago.

Topping the 40-goal mark during his final year in Chicago, DeBrincat's numbers diminished a bit this past season, finishing with 12 fewer points and 14 fewer goals during his first season in Ottawa. While he was brought in to score goals, DeBrincat's defensive number also took a hit, finishing with a -31 rating - 18 points lower than his previous career worse.

While DeBrincat would solve the scoring woes the Islanders have endured from their wingers, a deal involving Pageau would leave a hole at center on the third line. While Bo Horvat, Mat Barzal, and Brock Nelson are all capable down the middle, it's not feasible to have one of them playing outside of the top-6 - especially with the prospect of him being flanked by Simon Holmström and Hudson Fasching.

A deal doesn't look imminent on Ottawa's end, but the Islanders certainly seem to be in the thick of things.