The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus filed a column full of notes from the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas, discussing the Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets’ situations as Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck want “out” of their respective cities:
DeBrincat, meanwhile, bristled at the idea that Larkin’s trade request and the front-office turmoil has stunted the long-brewing momentum of a rebuild nearly a decade in the making.
“I honestly wouldn’t even call it derailed,” he said. “I think we have a majority of our team coming back. Obviously, (Patrick Kane’s) gone, but we got a couple of additions that are really going to help us out. So going into the year, we’re looking essentially the same as we were last year. … I think it’s a fresh start. We can get our minds set and get confident again and learn from our mistakes last year.”
Still, that doesn’t take away the hurt when a friend and teammate wants out.
“It sucks,” DeBrincat said. “Doesn’t really change what we think of him. 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.”
DeBrincat also addressed his own situation as awaiting a contract extension:
“Winning is very important to me,” he said. “I think we’re a lot closer than people are giving us credit for. For being in Detroit, I’ve said it all along, I love it here. 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.”
Continued (paywall)
