Alex DeBrincat isn't sure his oldest son fully understands the situation, but that's all part of bringing the Detroit Red Wings' 2026-27 season into focus.
The Wings have a star center who asked to be traded after last season, a front office with an interim general manager, and as of the afternoon on Saturday, Sept. 19, a top defenseman, restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson, in need of a new contract.
DeBrincat, too, is eligible for a new deal, as he's entering the last season of the four-year, $31.5 million deal he signed with former general manager Steve Yzerman in July 2023 after being acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators.
The Farmington Hills native would like another extension.
"I love playing here," he said, "but I think all that
is kind of put to the side right now. I'm focused on the season, focused on getting the new systems and all that stuff, meeting the new guys and just playing well.
"I take a lot of pride playing for the Red Wings, putting that jersey on every night. I think all of us in this room take a lot of pride in that and the history that comes with it. There's so much respect behind that crest. I definitely want to be part of the solution here and get back to the glory days."
DeBrincat (5 foot 9, 177 pounds) was one of the few Wings who played well start to finish in 2025-26, leading the team with 41 goals and 85 minutes; including a team-best 11 goals and 28 points post-Olympics.
"He was arguably our top performer, or at least from the forward group," coach Todd McLellan said. "At a time in the year where we needed a lot of guys, he was still performing. I think that's his spirit. He's competitive in everything he does. He's got, we talk about being abrasive or harder, he plays the game that way and he may be one of our smaller players.
"Trent Yawney and I say this all the time. We didn't know, quite understand, what Alex DeBrincat was all about until we came here, and we appreciate him a lot more now. Also away from the rink, with all that's going on and around us, he's been one of the guys that stepped up and arranged things for teammates and made sure that everything's taken care of for guys. So some real good leadership qualities there."
There's been so much tumult surrounding the team it's almost an after-note that Patrick Kane, DeBrincat's longtime friend, left the Wings to rejoin the Chicago Blackhawks. The two were linemates last season, reigniting a spark going back to their days with the Blackhawks.
"I think Kaner was in on 32 or 36% of Cat's goals," McLellan said. "So that's a pretty strong number. And they had chemistry from years prior, they were very close around the rink. All of that's going to change."
So far in camp, DeBrincat has played with Andrew Copp, his center for much of last season, with Lucas Raymond on the other wing. That's partly a reflection on the fact Dylan Larkin (the player with the trade request) is unavailable as he's nursing an upper-body injury, but even when he returns, McLellan sounded like he might keep DeBrincat and Raymond (who mostly has played with Larkin) on the same line.
"To start with, we are, and Copper's there now," McLellan said. "I don't know when Dylan's going to be back. I don't know how quick he'll get up to speed, so that's Copper's spot for now, and we'll see what happens after that."
DeBrincat, 28, is in line to receive a significant raise on the $7.88 million annual average value he carries right now, given his status as a 40-goal scorer. He's been eligible for an extension since July 1, but two weeks after that the Wings parted ways with Steve Yzerman as general manager, and it took until Sept. 15 – two days before the start of camp – to name Shawn Horcoff interim.
"I think we kind of, once it all happened, we kind of knew the lowdown," DeBrincat said. "It wasn't something I think probably either sides wanted to do without anyone there. But we'll see what happens here. I think we'll leave the business side to them and my agent."
As for going forward without Kane in the lineup, it's hard to fault him for returning to the place where he forged his legendary career (winning three Stanley Cups), especially armed, as a 37-year-old, with a two-year, $16 million deal.
"He was obviously a big part of our team, a big voice in the room and a great player out on the ice," DeBrincat said. "So tough to see leave him, but I think it's good to see him back there. I think if he's going to go anywhere, probably there is the spot that least upset me."
The tougher loss may be for DeBrincat's 4-year-old son, Archie, who was best buddies with Kane's young son, 'Trick' Kane.
"I don't know if he fully gets it yet," DeBrincat said, smiling, "but we went to Chicago over the summer and visited them and they got to hang out for a little bit."
Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why Detroit Red Wings want to re-sign Alex DeBrincat amidst chaos
