{"id":73806,"date":"2025-08-16T23:52:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T23:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/73806\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T23:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T23:52:11","slug":"debrincat-trade-checks-off-no-logical-boxes-for-oilers-or-red-wings-the-hockey-writers-edmonton-oilers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/73806\/","title":{"rendered":"DeBrincat Trade Checks Off No Logical Boxes for Oilers or Red Wings – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re officially in the midst of the NHL summer lull. With little news to write about and a lot of patience required before training camps and the regular season begin, trade proposal posts are part of the norm this time of year. The Hockey Writers\u2019 scribe Jesse Courville-Lynch, posed one such pitch, when he wrote<\/a>, \u201cIf the Oilers are truly willing to spend big, they might fit a trade partner in the Detroit Red Wings\u2026 One player who stands out as a potential trade target for the Oilers is superstar forward Alex DeBrincat<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interesting idea. Unfortunately, the trade checks off few, if any, logical boxes for either the Detroit Red Wings or the Edmonton Oilers. <\/p>\n

Why This Trade Just Doesn\u2019t Make Sense For Either Team<\/p>\n

The full trade pitch included the following: DeBrincat in exchange for Mattias Ekholm<\/a>, Beau Akey, their 2027 first-round pick, and their 2028 second-round pick.<\/p>\n

In his post, Courville-Lynch argues that the Oilers bring in a superstar for their top-six forward group, and with deep defensive depth, they can afford to move on from Ekholm. That\u2019s not entirely true. <\/p>\n

First, one could argue the Oilers don\u2019t need a superstar winger. It would be nice to have a sidekick for Leon Draisaitl, but Edmonton is giving a look to much less expensive options in Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie this season. The money is a big factor here, even if the idea is to convince the Red Wings to retain salary, which they are unlikely to do. <\/p>\n

\"AlexAlex DeBrincat, Detroit Red Wings (Jess Starr<\/a>\/The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

Second, the Oilers cannot afford to move Ekholm because they have defensive depth. There\u2019s a difference between depth and a solid group of blueliners. Ekholm is a big part of that core and moving him creates a massive hole with no one to effectively fill it. <\/p>\n

Finally, the Red Wings are looking to be competitive this season. Sure, if they struggle and look like they aren\u2019t headed for the playoffs, they might sell a couple of pieces. DeBrincat isn\u2019t one of them. He\u2019s not on an expiring deal, and he wouldn\u2019t be a rental. And, while Ekholm is a nice add, Beau Akey, and two picks don\u2019t help Detroit get better today. <\/p>\n

We\u2019re Also Leaving Out Some Obvious Factors in This Trade Proposal<\/p>\n

Something else to consider here is that DeBrincat has a 16-team no-trade list. While Ekholm doesn\u2019t hold trade protection, he\u2019s been overwhelmingly positive and quite public about his love for the city of Edmonton and the Oilers. Assuming either player has any desire to leave their respective situation is a long shot, at best. <\/p>\n

Beyond that, there is already talk that the Oilers are looking at offering Ekholm a contract extension. There\u2019s no indication at all that the team is thinking about trading him. Sure, there might be some back-and-forth about the best deal to offer at his age, but that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re thinking about moving on. It also doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019d have any desire to sign in Detroit, assuming the Oilers oddly traded him there. <\/p>\n

Why would the Red Wings give up DeBrincat for Ekholm, knowing he can walk away at the end of the season and sign wherever he wants, including back in Edmonton?<\/p>\n

For the Oilers, the idea of trading Ekholm at the deadline is preposterous. Only if they have a line on an upgrade on defense, and it takes moving Ekholm to land that player, would Edmonton contemplate sending him anywhere. Even more than Detroit, the Oilers aren\u2019t just in win-now mode. They\u2019re in Stanley Cup contention mode. GM Stan Bowman isn\u2019t going to be in the business of trading one position for another, especially if it creates new problems he\u2019ll have to manage. <\/p>\n

And, the problem created on the Oilers\u2019 blue line wouldn\u2019t just be a today problem. The Oilers have no clear succession plan if Ekholm is gone, but moving Akey in the deal makes a hole on their blue line for the future. It also moves a ton of the Oilers\u2019 draft capital. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

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