Alex DeBrincat had just provided another example of his value to the Detroit Red Wings with a three-point night.
It's the kind of performance that underscored why it was so important for the Red Wings to get the skilled winger under contract long term via a seven-year, $91 million extension announced on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
"Critical is a really good word for him," coach Todd McLellan said. "It shows you exactly how important he is to our team, our organization."
Extending the Farmington Hills, Michigan, native for the maximum length under collective bargaining agreement rules is also a much-needed win for the organization after a stretch tarnished by Dylan Larkin's request to be traded, the removal of franchise icon Steve Yzerman as general manager,
and the contract stalemate with restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson.
It was Yzerman who pounced on the opportunity to bring DeBrincat to Detroit in July 2023, acquiring the 40-goal scorer from the Ottawa Senators for forward Dominik Kubalik, defenseman Donovan Sebrango and a conditional first-round pick and fourth-round pick in 2024. Yzerman then turned around and signed DeBrincat for four years with an annual average value of $7,875,000.
DeBrincat's new deal blows by previous clubhouse salary leader Larkin, who is in Year 4 of an eight-year deal with an $8.7 million annual average value. It is in line with contracts that have risen dramatically over the past summer as the NHL's salary cap ceiling reached $104 million for 2026-27.
DeBrincat, 28, led the Red Wings with 41 goals and 85 points in 82 games last season, the third time in his career − first with the Red Wings − he has reached the 40-goal milepost. He has 298 goals and 305 assists in 702 career games spread among the Red Wings, Senators and the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that drafted the 5-foot-8, 177-pound left wing at No. 39 overall in 2016.
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: Red Wings sign Alex DeBrincat to extension, a much-needed boost for team
