Since the Ottawa Senators began their existence in the 1992-93 season, the franchise has yet to win one Stanley Cup. Even with not winning one Stanley Cup, the franchise has had many good players play for the franchise.
However, the Senators have had good players that have played for the franchise that they gave up on too early. Once some players left, some of their careers took off or dropped off in disappointing fashion.
In each decade, the Senators had talented players that they traded away too early. If some of these players had stayed in Ottawa, the direction of the Senators franchise could've ended up differently.
Top player from each decade the Senators gave up on too quickly that they traded away
Every decade has had good moments and bad moments. While the 2020s has been a disaster with missing the playoffs every year, one player the Senators gave up on quickly still has been productive since leaving after a trade.
2020s- Alex DeBrincat
For the first five seasons of his career, Alex DeBrincat was a stand out player with the Chicago Blackhawks. As the 2021-22 season concluded, both the Senators and Blackhawks have missed the playoffs every year since 2017.
With the Senators being desperate and the Blackhawks rebuilding, DeBrincat was traded by the Blackhawks to the Senators. DeBrincat appeared to be a missing piece to the Senators for them to make the playoffs.
While DeBrincat would record 66 points, the Senators finished in the bottom of the NHL and missed the 2023 playoffs. Then problems hit the Senators with DeBrincat.
DeBrincat didn't want to sign a long-term contract with the Senators. As contract issues grew, the Senators would trade DeBrincat to the Detroit Red Wings, and would sign a four-year, $31.5 contract extension with Detroit. Last season with Detroit, DeBrincat recorded 67 points and made the All-Star Game.
Although the 2020s decade is close to halfway done and the Senators haven't made the playoffs in seven years, DeBrincat would be the top player from the decade that the Senators gave up on too early. If a shorter deal was signed in Ottawa, the DeBrincat trade wouldn't have looked worse at the time.