NHL scout Dennis King thinks Alex DeBrincat would be a perfect match for the Oilers, and he isn't the only one floating the idea.
“I think that would be a PERFECT match,” King said Friday on The Sheet with Jeff Marek.
DeBrincat is playing out the final year of his deal, according to NHL Trade Rumors, and David Pagnotta has pegged his ask at $12 to $14 million depending on term.
He carries a $7,875,000 cap hit and has 4 points through three games, including a power-play goal.
The scout pointed to agent Jeff Jackson and Stan Bowman's taste for American players, adding there are whispers Detroit wants to build around Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond.
He pictured DeBrincat alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, with Hyman doing the dirty work and the Red Wings forward hanging around the faceoff circles.
Putting DeBrincat next to McDavid would be like handing a jazz soloist the best rhythm section in town. He'd just have to pick his notes.
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The Oilers are emerging as Alex DeBrincat's ideal landing spot
King named Isaac Howard as Edmonton's primary trade chip, the Hobey Baker winner who played his college hockey at Michigan State.
The 22-year-old has one assist through four games on a $972,500 cap hit.
King also joked it would take “Isaac Howard and 800 first-round picks.” Edmonton is a little short on those.
As a rental, DeBrincat fits Edmonton perfectly. Handing him the kind of extension Pagnotta described would be a mistake for a team already paying its stars.
There's a practical problem with the line King drew up, too. Hyman is out until at least Oct 17.
McDavid has 12 points already, and Vasily Podkolzin has chipped in 4 goals.
Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin has also named Edmonton as the No. 1 ideal fit for DeBrincat.
Would Detroit really move a 28-year-old who's producing right now?
The Red Wings are 1-2-0 and 27th in the league, with Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson already dominating the conversation.
Detroit hosts Seattle tonight, while Edmonton visits San Jose on Saturday.
The two teams meet Oct. 26 in Edmonton. If DeBrincat is still a Red Wing by then, every Oilers fan in the building will be watching him a little closer.
Should the Oilers trade Isaac Howard for Alex DeBrincat as a rental?
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