The Real Hold Up On Alex DeBrincat Trade Revealed

After making his future plans known to the Ottawa Senators, Alex DeBrincat was supposed to be at the top of the NHL's Most Likely To Be Traded list this offseason. But as of Tuesday, he's still an Ottawa Senator. So what gives?

According to Insider Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, it's not the Senators' asking price on a return that's holding up matters, but rather DeBrincat's own asking price:

While the Senators have given permission to DeBrincat’s agent, Jeff Jackson, to speak to at least three teams regarding a contract extension, he hasn’t been able to get a contract in place because nobody’s willing to offer the term or money his camp is demanding.

TSN Insider Darren Dreger says that DeBrincat is looking for an eight-year, $70.2M deal -- that's the Timo Meier deal agreed to last week with the New Jersey Devils.

And while Sens GM Pierre Dorion has given permission to a few teams to speak with the DeBrincat camp about an extension, thus far, nobody is willing to meet that price.

“If that’s holding up a trade, and it sounds like it might be, then it’s got to be up to Alex DeBrincat to reconsider or he stays in Ottawa,” Dreger said.