DeBrincat won't be traded by Senators, GM Dorion says

Alex DeBrincat will not be traded by the Ottawa Senators ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline on March 3, general manager Pierre Dorion said Thursday.

"Alex DeBrincat is not being traded. No chance," Dorion said. "We'll see what happens before the end of the [season] and if we sign a contract with him before then, but he's not getting traded."
The 25-year-old forward is in the final season of a three-year, $19.2 million contract ($6.4 million average annual value) he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 3, 2019, and can become an restricted free agent after the season.
The Senators acquired DeBrincat in a trade with the Blackhawks on July 7 for Ottawa's first- and second-round picks in the 2022 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
DeBrincat has 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 53 games with Ottawa this season.
For his part, DeBrincat said he is trying to avoid any distractions ahead of the trade deadline.
"I think it's a pretty stressful time for a lot of guys in the League," he said. "You try to block it out, but sometimes it's a little hard. It's good that I'm here and just keep getting comfortable here and just play my game."
DeBrincat also said he didn't plan to focus on negotiations toward a new contract.
"I honestly don't know too much," he said. "I leave it to my agent to figure that out. We talk every once in a while. Haven't heard too much."
Selected by Chicago in the second round (No. 39) of the 2016 NHL Draft, he has 351 points (178 goals, 173 assists) in 421 games through six NHL seasons, and six points (two goals, four assists) in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"Really good," Dorion said when asked to assess DeBrincat's season. "People forget there's an adjustment when you go to a new team. There's adjustments. Alex has played with different centers all through this year. He works hard, he's talented. He does the right thing. … We've been very happy about how Alex's play overall."
The Senators (26-24-3) are 6-1-0 in their past seven games but are seven points behind the Washington Capitals for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
Ottawa has missed the playoffs the past five seasons but were one of the more active teams during the offseason, trading for DeBrincat and goalie Cam Talbot, and signing forward Claude Giroux to a three-year contract.
The Senators have eight games remaining before the trade deadline, starting against the Blackhawks at Canadian Tire Centre on Friday (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, NBCSCH, ESPN+, SN NOW).
"Our goal all year is to play meaningful games," Dorion said. "I think we're there, we're playing meaningful games. Right now, everyone is wondering, are we a buyer or a seller? For us, let's see where this next seven games take us.
"We have a plan in place if we're going to be a buyer, if we're going to be a seller. We might be just standing pat also. We made a lot of moves in the summer to prepare to play meaningful games. For us, we have to make a decision before the Rangers game [March 2]. … We could be a buyer in certain positions, a seller in certain situations. There's a lot of balls in play. As a GM this is the most fun time of the year."
Dorion said he has spoken to several of Ottawa's pending free agents to let them know the team's thoughts. He said he would keep those discussions private but did say defenseman Travis Hamonic, who can become an unrestricted free agent after the season, would not be moved.
The 32-year-old has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 53 games and has provided veteran stability to a young group.
"Travis is a really good leader," Dorion said. "He's helped Jake Sanderson's transition to the NHL, having a steady partner, having someone to talk to, having someone that's gone to war. Do I see a future? Sure. He's probably someone that we're not going to move at the trade deadline. We want him here and we'll see at the end of the season where this path takes us."
Dorion said the Senators also did not expect to trade forward Derick Brassard before he plays his 1,000th NHL game, which could be as soon as Feb. 28 against the Detroit Red Wings.
The 35-year-old has 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 42 games after signing a one-year, $750,000 contract Oct. 10. He attended training camp with Ottawa on a professional tryout.
"Derick Brassard will play his 1,000th game with the Senators," Dorion said. "Unless there's a trade that shocks us, I would put it at 99.9 percent."