However, a major turn of events led to DeBrincat moving to Detroit at a seemingly discounted rate.
Trade Alert! The #Sens have acquired forward, Dominik Kubalík, defenceman, Donovan Sebrango, a conditional first-round draft pick in '24 and a fourth-round draft pick in '24 from the Detroit Red Wings, in exchange for forward, Alex DeBrincat.
Behind DeBrincat's Trade Request
The puzzle pieces have finally come together to reveal why the Senators let go of DeBrincat.
Sources say he didn't like his role as a second-line winger behind captain Brady Tkachuk. If that's the case then DeBrincat really did have to go.
This perspective aligns with the noticeable drop in DeBrincat's performance when he was on the 2nd line. Had he been positioned on the top line, he might have easily surpassed the 40-goal mark again.
Nonetheless, the past is in the past, and DeBrincat is set to embrace new challenges, lining up alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond for the Red Wings.