DETROIT — Alex DeBrincat gave the Red Wings a needed vote of confidence Wednesday, putting his name on a seven-year, $91 million extension and declaring that Detroit is where he wants to be.
The 28-year-old winger, who carries a $13 million cap hit on the new deal, said playing for the club he grew up following is a “dream come true.” More than the hometown pull, DeBrincat said he sees himself as part of Detroit’s answer as it tries to climb out of a difficult stretch.
“I really believe in what we’re trying to build here,” DeBrincat said.
Quick facts
- DeBrincat signed for seven years and $91 million, with a $13 million average annual value.
- He paced Detroit with 41 goals and 85 points last season.
- Through six games this season, DeBrincat leads the Red Wings with four goals and eight points.
- Detroit opened 1-3-2 and sits last in the Atlantic Division.
- The Red Wings have missed the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons, the longest skid in franchise history and the NHL’s longest active drought.
There were plenty of reasons for DeBrincat to wait. Detroit remains without a permanent hockey-operations chief after Steve Yzerman moved from general manager to senior adviser July 15. Shawn Horcoff took over as interim GM on Sept. 15.
Captain Dylan Larkin, another Detroit-area product, requested a trade after last season and has not publicly addressed his situation since. Restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson also remains unsigned.
Patrick Kane, DeBrincat’s close friend and a productive linemate, departed for the Chicago Blackhawks as an unrestricted free agent on July 23. Against that backdrop, DeBrincat could have played out the year, reached unrestricted free agency July 1 and entered a rising-cap market as one of its biggest available scorers.
Instead, he locked in. Since arriving from the Ottawa Senators in a July 9, 2023 trade, DeBrincat has scored 111 goals, 13 more than any other Red Wings player over that span.
Last season, his 41 goals matched his NHL personal best. His 85 points established a new career high. He has carried the early workload again this fall, even as Detroit has stumbled out of the gate.
Horcoff said the conversations were direct from the start. DeBrincat and his agent wanted to hear how the organization intended to move forward, and the forward came away committed to the plan.
“He wants to be here,” Horcoff said. “He wants to be a Red Wing for the rest of his life, and we’re happy, because that’s exactly what we want as well.”
Horcoff acknowledged that DeBrincat would have held substantial leverage had he reached the open market. But he said Detroit made clear that extending the winger was a priority and that the club intends to build around him alongside its existing core.
For DeBrincat, free agency never became the point. He said the chance to remain at home outweighed the possibility of squeezing more money from another team.
“I wanted to be here,” he said. “The money’s not everything. Obviously, it’s nice. But at the same time, what’s the extra bit going to do? I knew this was the spot I wanted to be. I’m a Red Wing at heart.”
DeBrincat comes from a Red Wings family and spoke about the weight of the franchise’s history. Still, the hometown connection alone was not enough; he also pointed to the room and to what he believes can develop from it.
“I believe in that group in there, and I think we’re a good team,” DeBrincat said. “Obviously, there are a lot of steps to be taken, but overall, I feel like we’re right there, and I feel good about what we have going here.”
His teammates felt the lift immediately. DeBrincat led stretching at Wednesday’s practice and received stick taps around the rink.
Lucas Raymond, the 24-year-old alternate captain who is signed through 2031-32, called the extension an important message for a club searching for steadier footing.
“I think it shows a lot,” Raymond said. “He wants to be here. He made that clear. He’s a huge piece for us.”
