With the Chicago Blackhawks looking ahead to a rebuild, there were some tough choices they would have to make this offseason. One name that kept cropping up was that of star scoring winger Alex DeBrincat, and the rumoured trade came to fruition a couple hours before the Draft:

Ottawa was a team that had been also rumoured to be interested in a winger like Kevin Fiala. This gives them some more elite scoring depth on top of what they have already on the roster. Let's break this down.

What Ottawa Gets

There is this thing that happens that when a player has a lot of success skating next to Patrick Kane, it's assumed that the credit goes to Kane alone. This happened back when Artemi Panarin was around – look how that worked out – and similar inferences have been made about DeBrincat. He is not a passenger, though. Over the last two seasons with DeBrincat (2.3 team goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5) and Kane (2.45) on the ice without each other, the team has been nearly identical, scoring-wise. A difference of 6-7% is negligible, especially with the lack of talent the rest of the team had.

It probably is fair to say that Kane was the better offensive player, but that doesn't mean that DeBrincat is bad, or average, or any disparaging remark, really. The 24-year-old scorer, according to ShutDownLine's tracking data, is very good at finding teammates and even getting the puck out of his zone cleanly. Those are the extra attributed that he brings, alongside that great shot of his. In fact, according to Evolving Hockey, he's been good defensively over the last three years, which is saying a lot considering the teams/coaches he's played for:

Again, that glosses over what is one of the best young scorers in the league. He is tied for 8^th in goals since entering the league and is great, by my eyes, at finding soft coverages in the zone to get his lethal shot away.

That is all what makes this likely a great trade for Ottawa. DeBrincat adds, at least, a genuine 30-goal scorer to the lineup, which was missing some scoring depth last season. He also adds another scoring dimension to a power play that was near the middle of the league last season and will look to improve on that mark in 2022-23. Even with just average defensive play, that is a great winger.

Of course, it does create an issue for a player already on that power-play unit. Out of Josh Norris, Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson, and Tim Stützle, one of them will be given the heave-ho to the second PP unit. Norris and Tkachuk likely remain because of their roles, but Batherson and Stützle are not near as certain. One of them will be moved to a lesser role and, if I were to guess now, it's Batherson. He and Batherson have the same handedness which makes swapping their roles on the power play a bit easier. It's tough to argue, given DeBrincat had more goals in 2021-22 (41) than Batherson has in his career (40). But it's a hit to the latter's fantasy value, a guy that got nearly one-third of his points last year on the power play.

There is also a question of the even strength role. The new acquisition has often skated on his off-wing, but is a right shot. He could easily just slide onto the second line, opposite Stützle, and nothing changes except Stützle's offensive fortunes. They might swap DeBrincat with Batherson, but probably not until later in the season.

Really, this is the best news for Stützle. If he does keep his PP role, he could get a top-end goal scorer as a wing-mate. No offence to Connor Brown, but there's a reason Ottawa gave up what they did for their new scorer, and it's because he's great offensively. To that end, it probably pushes Brown down to the third line permanently, barring any injuries. If Batherson remains on the top PP unit, it’s a downgrade for Stützle, who had so much help from PP production (26/58 points) in 2021-22, even if it’s a big help at even strength.

It is tough to say who this could help in Chicago, in terms of increased role. Dominik Kubalik may not be back with the team. Lukas Reichel could certainly slide into the top-6, but if he's not playing with Patrick Kane, who's he playing with? That's if Kane isn't moved/bought out himself. There are a lot of plates in the air for Chicago but if anyone could benefit, it's Reichel. Ostensibly, he could be alongside Kane both at 5-on-5 and on the power play next season. It feels like Chicago has many more moves coming between now and then, however, so let's not hold our breaths.

Ottawa is now a second-line centre from having a complete top-6/top pair. Pretty rapid turnaround for a team that isn't close to spending the cap yet. It might not be enough for a playoff push just yet in a deep Eastern Conference, but a couple more key pieces would make things very spicy.

Who This Helps

Tim Stützle

Lukas Reichel

Who This Hurts

Patrick Kane

Drake Batherson