This has been one of the toughest Detroit Red Wings offseasons in recent memory.
It goes without saying that the next general manager has a lot of work to do before puck drop. They'll need to trade Dylan Larkin, extend Simon Edvinsson and figure out the direction of the team moving forward with just a hair over two months left to go.
Fortunately, it appears as if one big piece of the future GM's checklist is already solved.
Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now believes that team scoring leader Alex DeBrincat has no interest in going anywhere else right now.
"As long as Detroit brass is willing to pony up the cash for DeBrincat and pay him market value, expect him to stay put," Duff begins. "Coming back to Detroit meant the world to DeBrincat, and not merely to play for the Red Wings. Michigan is his home. His family is here. His parents, his children’s grandparents."
DeBrincat, a native of Farmington Hills, came to Detroit back in 2023 in a trade with the Ottawa Senators. In 246 games with the Red Wings, he's scored 222 points, leading the team in goals (40) and points (85).
"According to those who know him best, that they all get to be together is a factor he absolutely treasures."
DeBrincat's love for Detroit
When asked about his love for the Red Wings last season, DeBrincat put it simply:
"I love it here. This is my home. I've loved every bit of playing here. I think this is definitely a team I want to be a part of for a long time, and I think everyone knows that.”
Now, to be fair, this quote was shared before Dylan Larkin put in his trade request and Patrick Kane returned to the Chicago Blackhawks. That said, it's hard to imagine that those two events would suddenly change his mind about the flashy forward's future in Hockeytown.
Still, should Red Wings fans temper their expectations?
There's still a chance DeBrincat leaves Detroit
As of right now, there are only two scenarios in which DeBrincat leaves Detroit: if he isn't offered a fair market deal or if the Red Wings trade him.
If the new general manager decides that a full rebuild is the best option moving forward, they'll need to accumulate as many assets as possible. Unfortunately, trading DeBrincat may be the best way to secure those assets. The team will likely get quite a haul from trading Larkin, but moving on from DeBrincat as well would likely accelerate the rebuild.
That said, DeBrincat is only 28. He's still got a handful of prime years left. If the Red Wings want to keep a high-scoring veteran forward around, they'll need to pay him fairly.
DeBrincat's long-term fate in Detroit rests solely upon the future general manager.
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