Month: July 2023

Summarizing the media’s reaction to the DeBrincat deal

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first broke news of the Alex DeBrincat deal just short of 7:30 PM, per Paul Kukla of Abel to Yzerman.

The deal is not an easy win: It’s Alex DeBrincat, who was signed to a 4-year, $31 million contract, for Dominik Kubalik, Ottawa-area native Donovan Sebrango, a conditional 1st round pick in 2024 and a 4th round pick.

The Senators’ website explains the situation as to how the 2024 1st round pick works:

The Ottawa Senators announced today that the team has acquired forward Dominik Kubalik, prospect defenceman Donovan Sebrango, a conditional 2024 first-round draft pick and Detroit’s 2024 fourth-round selection from the Red Wings in exchange for forward Alex DeBrincat.

The initial condition on the first-round pick is as follows — the Red Wings will have the option of sending their own 2024 first-round pick or Boston’s 2024 first-round pick (previously acquired on March 2, 2023) to Ottawa. However, if the Bruins’ 2024 first-round selection is an eventual top-10 pick (following the annual draft lottery), Boston will have the option of retaining the pick and transfering its 2025 unprotected first-round selection to Detroit. The Red Wings will then have the option of sending that draft pick or their own first-round pick in 2024 to the Senators to complete this trade.

From the Senators’ perspective, not all is lost, as the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch suggests…

Alex DeBrincat didn’t want to be with the Ottawa Senators so the club sent him packing Sunday night.

Unable to get the two-time 40-goal scored signed to a long-term deal, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion sent the 25-year-old DeBrincat to his hometown Detroit Red Wings and he immediately signed a four-year deal worth $7.85 million (all figures U.S.) per season.

After acquiring DeBrincat before last June’s draft from the Chicago Blackhawks, the Senators acquired winger Dominik Kubalik, prospect defenceman Donovan Sebrango, a conditional 2024 first-round draft pick and Detroit’s 2024 fourth-round selection from the Wings.

Kubalik, 27, is the centrepiece of the deal. He had 20 goals and 45 points in 81 games with the Wings last season and has one year left on a deal that will pay him $2.5 million next season. He could play a top-line role here.

“He’s a really good scorer and he wasn’t in a front-line role in Detroit,” a league executive said Sunday night.

Also:

TSN’s Darren Dreger said Monday Jackson was seeking a deal similar to Timo Meier’s eight-year, $70.2 million extension with the New Jersey Devils. That’s an average of $8.8 per season, but teams don’t believe he deserves that salary.

They value him closer to a deal in the $7.8 million range, and sources say none were willing to offer the eight-year deal that Jackson was demanding for DeBrincat. But DeBrincant wanted to be in Detroit so bad he took less term than he could have received from the Senators to move on.

Getting DeBrincat’s $9 million salary off the books for next season could open up the ability for the club to sign unrestricted free agent winger Vladimir Tarasenko to a short-term deal.

Amongst the Twitterverse reactions:

Continue reading Summarizing the media’s reaction to the DeBrincat deal

Tweets of note: Donovan Sebrango says ‘Thanks,’ Wings say goodbye to ‘Kuby’

Tweets/videos of note on the DeBrincat deal

The Red Wings have acquired Alex DeBrincat from the Ottawa Senators for Dominik Kubalik, Donovan Sebrango, a 2024 1st round pick and a conditional 4th round pick.

The NHL Network posted a highlight reel of DeBrincat’s work…

https://youtube.com/watch?v=wKm4SuS6ZUQ

And the Red Wings’ social media team got to work on a Sunday night:

Red Wings acquire Alex DeBrincat for Dominik Kubalik, Donovan Sebrango and a 1st round pick in 2024 (and a conditional 4th); DeBrincat signed to 4-year deal at $7.875 million per season

From the Detroit Red Wings’ PR department:

RED WINGS ACQUIRE ALEX DEBRINCAT FROM OTTAWA SENATORS IN EXCHANGE FOR DOMINIK KUBALIK, DONOVAN SEBRANGO, A CONDITIONAL FIRST-ROUND SELECTION AND A FOURTH-ROUND PICK IN 2024 NHL ENTRY DRAFT 

  … Farmington Hills Native Signs Four-Year Contract With Detroit  …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today acquired right wing Alex DeBrincat from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for left wing Dominik Kubalik, defenseman Donovan Sebrango, a conditional first-round selection and a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Additionally, the Red Wings have signed DeBrincat to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7.875 million.

DeBrincat, 25, played the 2022-23 season with the Senators and ranked among the team leaders with 27 goals (4th), 39 assists (5th), 66 points (4th), 45 penalty minutes (7th), 11 power play goals (T2nd), 30 power play points (1st), two overtime goals (T1st), six game-winning goals (T1st) and 263 shots (2nd) in 82 games. The 5-foot-8, 178-pound forward was acquired by the Senators after spending five seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks from 2017-22, representing the franchise at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game. DeBrincat tallied a career-high 78 points (41-37-78) in 82 games during the 2021-22 campaign, pacing the Blackhawks with 41 goals to match his personal best set in 2018-19. Originally selected by Chicago in the second round (39th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, DeBrincat has compiled 373 points (187-186-373) and 112 penalty minutes in 450 games with the Blackhawks and Senators since 2017-18, in addition to six points (2-4-6) and nine penalty minutes in nine postseason contests.

A native of Farmington Hills, Mich., DeBrincat notched three consecutive 100-point seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters from 2014-17 prior to turning professional. In total, DeBrincat accumulated 332 points (167-165-332), a plus-137 rating and 150 penalty minutes in 191 games for the Otters, along with 73 points (30-43-73) and 49 penalty minutes in 55 postseason matchups. He was honored as the Canadian Hockey League’s Player of the Year in 2016-17 after leading the OHL in goals (65) and points (127) in 73 games. DeBrincat also helped the Otters win an OHL championship in 2017 with a league-high 38 points (13-25-38) in 22 playoff games before earning a place on the Memorial Cup All-Star Team with 10 points (2-8-10) in five appearances. He was named the CHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2014-15 after pacing all OHL freshmen in goals (51), assists (53) and points (104) in 68 games. Before starting his major junior career, DeBrincat attended Lake Forest (Ill.) Prep, racking up 111 points (54-57-111) in 50 games during the 2013-14 campaign. While growing up in Metro Detroit, DeBrincat skated with the Victory Honda AAA program from 2010-13.

On the international stage, DeBrincat represented Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, recording nine points (7-2-9) and four penalty minutes in eight games. He captured a bronze medal at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, logging nine points (1-8-9) and a plus-three rating in 10 games. DeBrincat also won a bronze medal at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, netting one goal and 25 penalty minutes in five appearances.

DHN’s Allen examines the Red Wings’ goaltending pipeline

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen discusses the pecking order with which the Red Wings will likely start the 2023-2024 season in terms of goaltending:

The Red Wings made sure they will have enough depth this season by re-signing John Lethemon. The former Michigan State standout was 18-1-3, with a 1.99 goals-against average playing for the Toledo Walleye. He was named ECHL Goaltender of the Year, Lethemon shared the net with Sebastian Cossa during the playoffs.

Training camp performances will sort out who ends up where in the system. But here’s what we should expect to see next season:

Toledo Walleye: John Lethemon (2022-23 free agent signing) and Jan Bednar (Drafted 107th overall in 2020)

Grand Rapids Griffins: Alex Lyon (2023 free agent signing) and Sebastian Cossa (Drafted 15th overall in 2021).

Detroit Red Wings: Ville Husso (2022 trade with St. Louis) and James Reimer (2023 free agent signing)

Continued with discussion of the Wings’ goaltending prospects in Trey Augustine, Rudy Guimond and Carter Gylander.

Duff: Shayne Gostisbehere is a power player

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff took note of Red Wings power play specialist Shayne Gostisbehere’s comments regarding…Well, the importance of power play scoring, from Gostisbehere’s initial presser:

Over his NHL career, he’s proven to be a power-play specialist. Gostisbehere has accounted for 31% of his goals (27 of 87) and 35.3% of his assists (79 of 224) while his team was enjoying the man advantage. So when the veteran defenseman speaks to what makes for an effective power-play unit, you’d be wise to listen.

In his opinion, familiarity is what breeds power-play success.

“To be honest I think the biggest thing for power plays is obviously familiarity, just playing with each other,” Gostisbehere said. “I think one of the biggest things is you get a comfort level playing with guys. You know where the outs are, you know where a guy’s gonna be.

“Obviously puck movement and chemistry are big things but I think for any good power plays out there, you see that they’ve been together for a while, number one. The way they move the puck, they just know where everyone is going to be. You just get used to guys and it helps a lot.”

Continued

HSJ in the morning: Telling Kris Draper’s story

The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a fine profile of Red Wings assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper, and it’s not behind a paywall as of 6:15 AM:

“It’s been 30 years since I’ve been part of this organization and it’s something I take a ton of pride in,” Draper said. “The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most important things in my life, it’s been like that for years. I want to be a big part of us getting back into the playoffs and then from there, being Cup contenders to being Cup champions again. I want the players in this dressing room to go through what I went through as a player. It’s something I’ve never forgotten. Once the season ended and we went into the playoffs, it was different around here. Detroit Red Wings fans are absolutely incredible, but it goes next level come playoff time, and I want that group in that dressing room to go through what we were able to go through and then they’re going to understand what playoff hockey means in Detroit.”

As soon as he retired, Draper, like Yzerman had done in 2006 when he retired, shifted to the front office. Anyone who watched The Office and followed the career path of Dwight Schrute would appreciate the fact Draper started out as assistant to the general manager under Ken Holland.

“I was officially special assistant and then I asked Ken if we could drop the special,” Draper said. “Ken was very gracious with the title. I wasn’t in charge of anything, really. I just went and watched hockey games and put reports in and I don’t know if anybody read them. That was the role there.

“And then when Stevie came in, putting me in charge of the draft and director of amateur scouting and running a staff, and that was something that was totally different. It was a great opportunity for me to be around Ken and learn everything in all areas of the game. That was special and I appreciate that, to be able to walk out of the Detroit Red Wings room into the Detroit Red Wings front office was something that Ken gave me that opportunity and that’s a big reason why I’m sitting here.”

Continued

DHN’s Robinson profiles Shai Buium

Detroit Hockey Now’s Tim Robinson profiles one of my favorite Red Wings prospects, University of Denver defenseman Shai Buium. I believe that the fleet-footed Buium is NHL-bound at some point, but the 6’3,” 205-pound defenseman has some goals to accomplish before he turns pro:

Buium, who will be a junior at the University of Denver, says working on the little things will be key to his improvement as a player and a prospect.

“Obviously, winning a national championship will be a team focus,” said Buium, who played on the Pioneers’ 2022 NCAA championship team. “For me personally, it’s staying on the little things during the season, like skating every day and doing the edge-work stuff we do here (at the recent Red Wings Prospects Development Camp). That stuff is going to help me make it to the NHL, so seeing to that stuff and keep working hard in the gym.”

Buium is a 6-3, 205-pound native of San Diego whose parents are from Israel. He was introduced to hockey by a cousin while growing up. He’s not the only hockey player in his family. His brother Zeev, who will be a freshman at Denver this winter, is considered a top prospect in next year’s draft.

Dan Cleary, the Red Wings’s director of player development, is bullish on Shai Buium’s progress at Denver.

“I think Shai’s made good strides,” he said. “You have to give these kids some time to figure it out and kind of like, whether it’s learning from their mistakes or trial and error. I feel Shai’s a good player. He’s got good size. Got good hands, it’s an important season. He’s going to have his brother in Denver with him as well, so that will be nice.”

Continued