Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat has gone through the motions over the past couple of seasons. He started with the Chicago Blackhawks, then was moved to the Ottawa Senators, then acquired by the Detroit Red Wings within three years.
However, DeBrincat has already made a big impression in Detroit and is looking to continue to contribute on and off the ice.
The feeling when DeBrincat was acquired from the Senators for defenseman Donovan Sebrango, forward Dominik Kubalik, and two draft picks was that Detroit finally had a sniper.
Once a 40-goal scorer, he dipped in that department in his only year with Ottawa, scoring 27 times. He was often shuffled between the first and second lines so he could not get comfortable with linemates. Despite this, he still scored 66 points in 82 games.
That same offensive production, if not more, is expected from DeBrincat for the Red Wings. Aside from captain Dylan Larkin, Detroit has severely lacked a player who can provide a substantial amount of offense.
Alex DeBrincat has been very good with the Detroit Red Wings so far.
This season, DeBrincat has delivered in the team’s only two games this season. In the 4-3 opening night loss to the New Jersey Devils, he scored his first goal as a member of the Red Wings. In the 6-4 game-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, he scored two goals and added an assist for three points.
Although it is still very early in the season, he leads the team in points (4), +/- with a +3, and is tied with teammate Robby Fabbri with one power-play goal.
During the preseason, head coach Derek Lalonde had a first line of Larkin-DeBrincat-David Perron, which played out tremendously well. However, most wanted a line of Larkin-DeBrincat-Lucas Raymond, which was put together for games 1 and 2. That line has contributed seven points (DeBrincat 4, Larkin 2, Raymond 1).
DeBrincat became the third Red Wings player to score three goals in his first three games. No one should be surprised at his early success because of his offensive production since his NHL debut.
His on-ice presence and his offensive zone awareness have been key to his early season success. He should continue to shine for a Detroit Red Wings team that has been dealt an overhaul at the forward position.
DeBrincat and his NHL success has not come easy as one may not recognize his offensive success because of his stature.
However, he is proving that success does not matter because of your size but your offensive capabilities. A pure goal scorer, DeBrincat is an underrated playmaker and gets into the dirty areas as well.
DeBrincat could very well challenge for the most goals by a Red Wings player in a season. The last time that was done was by both Sergei Fedorov (56) and Ray Sheppard (52) who both shared that record during the 1993-94 season.
Not only does Detroit have weapons up front, but they also have offense from the blue line. Mortiz Seider is the offensive leader on defense but the Red Wings have added both Jeff Petry and Shayne Gostisbehere who are more than capable of putting up points.
The Detroit Red Wings and DeBrincat are primed for a successful season and a possible playoff spot. With the Toronto Maple Leafs leading a stacked Atlantic division, this will be tough. However, Detroit is out to prove people wrong.