Joined: Apr. 2017
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 434
The problem with Debrincat is you have to spend a couple of top picks, then you have to pay him $8m+ long term (or $9m+ for 1 year). I have a hard time seeing Stevie doing that, unless he think Debrincat puts them over the top (which I don't think he does, still a lot of holes). Steve could wait 1 year and not pay any draft pick to get him, when DET is closer to competing.
In the end, I think OTT doesn't get anywhere near market value for him (similar to the Dubois issue, he wants to go to MTL, no one is going to pay top picks for Dubois, and MTL has WPG caught because no one wants to pay for 1 year). The other options are OTT signs him for $9m/1 year, and trade him at the deadline, or (least likely), they don't qualify him, making him a free agent. Option 3 won't happen, because OTT would just take the best deal they can find. OTT has new ownership coming in, which will affect what they pay (which is why Option 3 is on the list).