New Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat took part in an interview on 97.1 the Ticket this morning, and 97.1’s Will Burchfield took note of DeBrincat’s remarks:
The knock on his game is on the other side of the puck. DeBrincat was a minus-31 last season, though that was partly attributable to poor luck. His on-ice shooting percentage and on-ice save percentage both plunged to career lows at five-on-five, so a bounceback is likely in order. He should also benefit from joining a team that plays defense-first hockey under Derek Lalonde.
DeBrincat acknowledged that “my 200-foot game can always get better.” He also pointed out that “it got a lot better” toward the end of his time with the Blackhawks. Indeed, DeBrincat was a minus-10 over his final two seasons in Chicago on a team that was a combined minus-97. No one should ever go too far down the plus-minus wormhole, but that was best on the team among players who logged at least 70 games. (Patrick Kane? Minus-26.)
“Obviously last year my plus-minus wasn’t very good, but I think there’s a lot of things that go into that as well, so looking to have a bounceback season and get that 200-foot game back,” DeBrincat said. “I think I fit well on this team. There’s a lot of guys who want to play fast and control the puck and that’s kind of my big game, controlling the puck and playing in the O-zone. But you gotta play well in the D-zone to get it in the O-zone, so just looking to do that.”
The addition of DeBrincat gives the Wings legitimate playoff aspirations for the first time in several years. A few more goals should yield a few more wins, which could be the difference between falling out of the race and staying in it. While DeBrincat admitted that “it’s a little early to tell,” he said that returning to the playoffs is the aim for the Red Wings next season. They were 12 points shy last season, the closest they’ve been since the last time they actually made them in 2016.
“That’s the goal going into the year,” he said, “is playing meaningful games and hopefully contending for the Stanley Cup. I think that’s everyone’s goal in that locker room and we’re hoping to get there.”
