Where some may shy away from the chaos that is the Detroit Red Wings, Alex DeBrincat embraces it.
In an interview with NHL.com, DeBrincat discusses the state of the team, the general manager search, Dylan Larkin's trade request and his (hopeful) contract extension. Despite the circumstances of the offseason, DeBrincat knows what every Red Wings fan knows: the Winged Wheel has withstood worse.
“I know everyone in that room has immense pride in putting on that jersey and playing for the Detroit Red Wings,” he said. “From the outside looking in, I could see how you think it’s maybe doom and gloom, but in the locker room, everyone’s excited to go and ready to play and ready to show people what we’re made of, and I think a lot of people are probably doubting us this year."
Rather than throwing in the towel, DeBrincat has chosen to lean into the chaos and focus on what's ahead.
DeBrincat on Yzerman and Larkin
DeBrincat, like many others in the locker room, was disappointed by Dylan Larkin's trade request. “From my perspective, he’s a great teammate, he’s a great friend of mine, and that’s a decision he made,” DeBrincat said. “That’s about as far as I’m going to go there. He’s always been a great teammate to me and a great friend. I feel like at this moment our team is definitely better with him, and he’s still our leader. He’s still one of our best players. That’s the way it is.”
DeBrincat certainly isn't wrong on that last statement. Without Larkin at center, the team has relatively shallow depth, relying on Andrew Copp, Marco Kasper and J.T. Compher to bear the burden. Despite the valid frustration of fans, it's an objective fact that Larkin makes the team better.
But, with that said, the longer this drags out, the more frustrating it becomes for everyone involved.
DeBrincat embraces change
Change is the only constant in the NHL. DeBrincat knows this better than anyone. The former Chicago Blackhawk has played for three teams now: the Blackhawks, the Ottawa Senators and, of course, the Red Wings.
“I think when something happens like this, it’s a good time to take a look in the mirror and see what we really are and what we can change and what we need to do,” he said. "It’s a good time to take a step back and realize what we need to change in different aspects. Off the ice, on the ice, a lot of different aspects, you can take a step away and really see what got us to this point and how we’re going to change it.”
DeBrincat proud to play for Red Wings
The most exciting and encouraging news, however, came from his thoughts on the Red Wings. "As of right now, my opinion hasn’t changed,” DeBrincat said at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour on Tuesday. “I love playing for the Red Wings. I love wearing that jersey and battling with those guys out there. My intention is obviously to stay in Detroit. We’ll see what happens, I guess.”
This is the second time DeBrincat has mentioned his desire to stay in Detroit. In late July, Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now revealed that DeBrincat wants to stay with the Red Wings so long as he's offered a fair deal. What this looks like is anyone's guess, but, if recent contracts are any indication, it's fair to assume the deal will land somewhere in the $12M/year range.
The sooner the Red Wings get a GM in place, the sooner they can sign their star goal scorer to a long term deal.
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