Late yesterday evening, Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin offered a set of comments from Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat , made during the NHL’s Player Media Tour in Las Vegas (DeBrincat also spoke with NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika), and this morning, he offers more from DeBrincat, including this regarding Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin…
“It sucks. Doesn’t really change what we think of him,” DeBrincat said Tuesday. “He’s still a great player. He’s been a great friend and a great teammate to me, and we obviously love him here. That’s kind of for him to answer, what’s next for him. But for us, I think it’s all the same. We’re happy to see him at the rink and happy to get started.”
And, despite Mr. Larkin’s objections, DeBrincat is optimistic about the Red Wings’ outlook for the upcoming season:
“It’s like anything, you don’t really like change, it feels uncomfortable for a bit,” DeBrincat said. “But at this time, we’re all just excited to get back. Obviously we want Simon there, but I think he is still going to be in Detroit, maybe come hang out with the guys, I’m not really sure what his plan is, you guys would have to ask him. Overall, I think we’re just excited to get back and play hockey again. That’s where we can get away from everything. I think all the guys are excited to get back as a team and see each other again and just play. “
DeBrincat expresses excitement over the coming season and goes as far as claiming the team is “looking essentially the same as we were last year.” He can try his best to squint and see the Wings’ potential to defy expectations and make the playoffs. Maybe Larkin ends up playing some or all of the season with Detroit while awaiting a trade. Maybe they get another strong season from John Gibson in net. Maybe DeBrincat tops 40 goals again. Maybe Moritz Seider remains an all-world presence on defense. Maybe one of the Wings’ prospects, such as Nate Danielson or Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, has a breakthrough season. But there’s no hiding from the fact DeBrincat is 696 games and nine seasons into a highly productive career and has competed in the playoffs just once – in the 2019-20 COVID-19 bubble tournament, which gifted his then-team, the lowly Blackhawks, a flimsy berth with the league’s 23rd-best points percentage. Even though playing for the Wings is a childhood dream realized, they haven’t made the playoffs in 10 years, the longest active drought in the NHL. Little Caesars Arena opened in 2017 and has yet to host a postseason NHL game. DeBrincat is 28, with three 40-goal seasons to his name, and his prime years are wasting away.
He wouldn’t be human if he didn’t at least consider that this season, his UFA walk year, is crucial in deciding whether he wants to be a Red Wing long term.
“Winning is very important to me, and I think we’re a lot closer than people are giving us credit for,” he said. “And for being in Detroit, I’ve said it all along, I love it here, and ultimately that’s where I want to end up. But there’s a lot of things that go into that. So we’ll see what happens when a new GM comes in. But overall, I love the guys, I love the team, love playing for the Red Wings. That’s something that we all take tremendous pride in, putting that jersey on every night and the history that goes into it.”
Update: The Red Wings took note of DeBrincat’s remarks:
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 9, 2026
