HINDSIGHT

Mario Russo

The National Hockey League Draft. An event like no other, ran like none other, in a financial age that sits unmatched within the major sporting landscape. The time that unofficially brings an abrupt end to the season that was, and opens the doorway to the season at hand.

Over the next two days, general managers across the league will be swiftly called upon to steer the ship for their respective teams. Decisions will get tougher with every passing pick. Players will find new homes, and above all else, both fans and managers alike will draw to the same conclusion as done in years past, eclipsing the grand realization of hindsight.

However, managers would be let off the hook too easily if there wasn't any controversy prior to the annual first selection. With anticipation being the more perpetual emotion lingering in the air this evening, utter shock, and possibly some aging body odor may very well be the only things dragging through the halls of the Bell Centre at the moment.

Less than three hours before the draft, the Chicago Blackhawks made confirmation on their original offseason plans to blow the team up. Following consecutive years of poor performance both on and off the ice, the Blackhawks finally departed from their second-round steal in 2016, shipping forward Alex Debrincat across the border to the Ottawa Senators.

In exchange for one of the game’s most prolific goal scorers, the Sens relinquished their seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft, their 39th overall pick, and a third round selection in 2024.

The 24-year old leaving Chicago was merely inevitable given the situation general manager Kyle Davidson had to dance out of. Mixing a playoff-proven roster with a group of inexperienced young players was a plan that led the team to finish dead last in the Central division last season.

Despite the poor display as a team, Debrincat posted a career high in each of the three scoring categories while mending the top line alongside Patrick Kane. The newly acquired forward highlighted his career year by finding the scoresheet 41 times through a fully healthy campaign.

Both the young age and firepower will assist the Ottawa Senators mightily heading into 2023 with a competitive objective in mind. The group is yearning for a substantial offseason this summer as they look to surround their home-grown stars in Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris and Drake Batherson. Adding a potent goal scorer that has yet to play his best years of hockey is not a bad way to start.

As always, draft weekend reminds the hockey world that Hindsight is 20/20. Needless to say it is much easier to analyze decisions when looking back at them, however many of those awaiting the draft have been chewing on this recent deal and are unable to find anything but a bad taste in their mouths when reflecting on Chicago’s haul.

The deal may very well be the exception to this rule of hindsight, as much like myself, many would argue that the decision made by Kyle Davidson contained holes in it while the trade was being proposed.

It is hard to imagine a bottom-six forward such as Brandon Hagel was dealt earlier in the year to the Bolts for a pair of firsts and two prospects. A generous return for the Blackhawks will set the team up nicely for their rebuild in the years to come, yet it’s the same return that has left the hockey world wanting more for the original six side.

If you can do it once, you can do it twice. Chicago has woefully eroded this rule with the lack of talent (or potential talent) going their way. If a trio of picks is all the team could fetch for one of the game’s upcoming superstars, you have to wonder how many other teams were involved. Did the Blackhawks get so caught up in their “Blow and Go” plans that they failed to hear out any other returns for Debrincat?

So many questions surrounding the group’s return or lack thereof, yet the only chance at redemption lies tonight in a situation that holds hindsight in the highest regard. The NHL Draft is already one of the year’s largest pressure cooker situations, and with the trade made this afternoon between the Hawks and Sens, you better believe all eyes will be on picks 7 and 39.