The 24-year-old forward had 78 points in 82 games this season and led Chicago in goals with 41 to tie his NHL career season high, previously set in 2018-19. He has one season remaining on the three-year $19.2 million contract (average annual value $6.4 million) he signed Oct. 3, 2019, and then can become a restricted free agent.
A second-round pick (No. 39) in the 2016 NHL Draft, DeBrincat has 307 points (160 goals, 147 assists) in 368 games for the Blackhawks and six points (two goals, four assists) in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Davidson didn't comment specifically on DeBrincat when asked about his availability, but said there are some "untouchable" players, who each has a full no-move clause in his contract.
"There are some players that are untouchable based on their contractual status," Davidson said when Luke Richardson was introduced as Chicago coach. "That's something those players have earned. We will hold true to that. But we are in position where we are listening. I think it would be unwise to do anything but."
The "untouchable" players include center Jonathan Toews, forward Patrick Kane and defenseman Seth Jones. Toews and Kane each is entering the final season of an eight-year contract signed July 9, 2014; each can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Jones was acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 23, 2021, and five days later signed an eight-year, $76 million contract extension (average annual value $9.5 million), which begins this season.
The 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft is July 7-8 at Bell Centre in Montreal. Free agency begins July 13. The Blue Jackets are selecting No. 6 with the pick they received from the Blackhawks in the Jones trade. Asked if he would like Chicago to acquire a first-round pick ahead of the draft, Davidson said, "That would be nice.
"We don't have one right now and it would be nice to have one, but again we're not going to force anything. I think when you're trying to make something happen, that's when you make mistakes. We'll see what's there and if we can get into the first round, absolutely, we'd like to. It just might not be available to us. We'll kind of take what comes."
The Blackhawks (28-42-12) did not qualify for the playoffs this season; they have won one postseason series (best-of-5 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers against the Edmonton Oilers) since winning the Stanley Cup in 2015, their third title in a six-season span (2010 and 2013). Davidson has spoken continuously about Chicago rebuilding to get back to that type of success.
"I haven't been shy about professing my willingness to acquire some future assets," he said. "That's something we'll look to do. We'll just take what comes our way and evaluate it on a case-by-case basis."
