Two-time All-Star forward Alex DeBrincat is locked in for seven years at $13 million per season with the Detroit Red Wings, and honestly, it’s the only real ray of sunshine breaking through a dark cloud over that franchise right now. This massive contract for one of their top players comes at a time when the team is absolutely reeling from a string of brutal headlines, and they’re already off to a 1-5 start this season. It’s a huge commitment, but you gotta wonder if it’s enough to pull them out of this spiral.
DeBrincat’s Numbers Are Legit, But the Team’s Just Not Delivering
Let’s be real, DeBrincat has earned this contract. The guy is a proven offensive force in the NHL, rocking 298 career goals and a staggering 603 points. Last season, he put up a career-high 85 points and matched his career-best with 41 goals. That’s serious production, making him the first Red Wing since Marian Hossa way back in 2009 to hit the 40-goal mark. Even this season, while the team is struggling to find the net, DeBrincat is leading them with four goals and eight points through their first six games. He was an All-Star with Chicago in 2022, and then again last season in his first year with Detroit after coming over from Ottawa in 2023. He’s a legitimate star, a Farmington Hills native, and this extension is a much-needed positive on paper. But man, the team around him? It’s a whole different story.
A Franchise Mired In Chaos
Look, the DeBrincat extension is a positive, no doubt, but it’s shining a light on a really messy situation. This is a franchise that’s been stuck in a decade-long postseason drought. Their former general manager, Steve Yzerman, was demoted in July to an advisory role to the owner and CEO, Chris Ilitch, leaving Shawn Horcoff as the interim GM after a failed search for a permanent replacement. That’s not exactly a vote of confidence. Then there’s the whole Dylan Larkin saga. The 30-year-old center actually asked for a trade in the offseason! When he wasn’t moved, the team straight up stripped him of his captaincy. The guy was booed by his own fans at the season opener while recovering from an upper-body injury and not even in uniform. That’s some serious drama, right? And if that wasn’t enough, 23-year-old restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson, a No. 6 overall pick in 2021 who had nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last year, was seen training with a team in his native Sweden as the Red Wings were preparing for the season. It’s an absolute mess of negative news, and the 1-5 start is just pouring salt in the wound.
The Red Wings are hosting Philadelphia next, and honestly, every game for them right now is about trying to find some semblance of stability. DeBrincat’s deal is done, which is good. Now they need to start winning some hockey games before this season completely slips away.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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