In August, 24 forwards received an invite to the U.S. Men's Olympic orientation camp, and Alex DeBrincat was left out. But it seems like every time he takes the ice, he's proving to USA Hockey that he deserved one, considering his monster performances this season.
DeBrincat put up another two points in the Detroit Red Wings' shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings, giving him 12 points and three goals on the season through the Wings' first 11 contests. DeBrincat, along with Dylan Larkin (16 points in 11 games), have been lights-out for Detroit and two major reasons why they're 8-3 heading into the final game of October.
Getting all but passed over for a chance to make the 2026 Olympic squad definitely looks like it lit a fuse in DeBrincat, as he's on pace to log over a point per game for the second time in his career and first with a full, 82-game slate.
DeBrincat accomplished the feat in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season when he put up 56 points in 52 games. He scored 32 goals that year, converting a whopping 20.6 percent of them. He has been one of the most consistent American-born players since entering the league in 2017-18, seeing playing time with three different teams, which is no easy task.
Alex DeBrincat could put up record numbers in 2025-26
If DeBrincat keeps up this lightning pace, he'll finish the 2025-26 season with between 89 and 90 points and 22 and 23 goals. While the latter number is a major drop-off in goals scored from the previous season, when he notched 39 of them, snagging between 66 and 68 assists would be no laughing matter, proving that DeBrincat also boasts elite playmaking potential.
Despite not receiving an invite in August, it's not like DeBrincat doesn't have something to play for. He'll help the likes of Larkin take command of a young Red Wings team that looks like it's destined to finally end its playoff drought during its centennial season. And if that's the case, Red Wings fans wouldn't care less if DeBrincat wasn't part of Team USA to compete for a Gold Medal.
Being part of a Red Wings team that ended a franchise-record playoff skid is plenty enough to play for, and DeBrincat would, years from now, be remembered as one of the cornerstones of the team that woke up from the nightmare.
As for the Olympics, fans will find out who made the cut in early January for Team USA. Two Red Wings players to keep a close eye on are Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane, who both received an invite to August's orientation.