Author: George Malik

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.

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.

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

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

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

Woodward Sports Network’s Terry Foster discusses what he believes are the “hold-ups” to a possible trade between the Red Wings and Ottawa Senators for one Alex DeBrincat:

The Red Wings and Ottawa Senators reached a tentative agreement bringing him to Detroit. That is why his name was taken off the Ottawa Senators website.

However, Yzerman is a tough negotiator. The Wings won’t make anything official until reaching an agreement with DeBrincat. Yzerman does not like long-term deals no matter who is the player because he does not want a situation where DeBrincat is stumbling across the ice like a drunken sailor at age 34 or 35.

DeBrincat wants an eight-year deal valued at between $8.75 million to $9 million per season.

Yzerman won’t move off five-years at $7.5 million a year. The number of years is more important to Yzerman than the money. He does not want a replay of the Tigers Miggy deal where slugger Miguel Cabrera still commands a huge salary despite minimal production on a losing team.

DeBrincat, 25, says he wants to play for the Red Wings but in his defense this is his last chance at a big contract.

So the Red Wings and DeBrincat must find a compromise to make this happen.

The Wings do not want to pay DeBrincat more than Captain Dylan Larkin (eight-years, $69.5 million). Unless they swing for the fences and obtain Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, the next Wing to earn $9 million or more will be defenseman Mo Seider.

Continued

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings today re-signed goaltender John Lethemon to a one-year, two-way contract. pic.twitter.com/1SjR5CUpNI

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 8, 2023

RED WINGS RE-SIGN GOALTENDER JOHN LETHEMON TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

  … 2022-23 ECHL Goaltender of the Year Posted 18-1-3 Record With Toledo Walleye …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today re-signed goaltender John Lethemon to a one-year, two-way contract.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen wonders aloud which of the Red Wings’ younger players might earn the roster spot once held by former Red Wing Filip Zadina:

No one in the Detroit organization, GM Steve Yzerman in particular, liked how the Filip Zadina departure unfolded. But the result of the contract termination:  Detroit has roughly $13.5 milion in cap space (according to capfriendly.com).

That figure includes Alex Lyon playing in the American Hockey League. Plus, the Red Wings still have to pay restricted free agent Joe Veleno. AFP Analytics projects Veleno’s salary will be $1.259 million on a two-year deal. It wouldn’t be surprising if Yzerman gave him $1.3 or 1.4 million. Veleno has shown progress.  Zadina was earning an average of $1.8 million per season

But the other factor of the Zadina departure is that it opens up a roster spot. The Red Wings currently have 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies for 22 players on the roster.

That could be a spot for Alex DeBrincat. (It should be noted that a DeBrincat deal could include someone off Detroit’s roster.)

If the DeBrincat deal doesn’t come to pass, players such as Elmer Soderblom, or one of the young defensemen, or Marco Kasper could claim it. Also, don’t rule out the Red Wings acquiring another veteran. Yzerman has said he’s still talking to other GMs.

Continued

The Athletic’s beat writers discuss the “biggest unaddressed need(s)” of each and every one of the NHL’s 32 teams a week into the unrestricted free agent period, and you won’t be surprised to find out that scoring is an issue that the Red Wings have yet to address:

Detroit Red Wings

A scorer: Yes, but it will take a big trade. The free-agent market was thin this year, and especially considering the Red Wings are still building toward an ultimate window that’s more in the future than the present, they need any such addition to be young (or young-ish). All eyes are of course on Alex DeBrincat, and to a lesser extent William Nylander, but both are expected to be pricey, both in acquisition cost and the potential contract they would command. That makes any potential trade a fine line to walk for a Detroit team that’s not in win-now mode and has to keep its big picture in mind. — Max Bultman

Continued (paywall); I wouldn’t buy into the Nylander hype.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff profiles Alexandre Doucet this morning:

Last season, the 21-year-old left-winger tallied 58 goals in a QMJHL season split between the Val d’Or Foreurs and Halifax Mooseheads. He counted an additional 14 goals and 31 points in 21 playoff games for the Mooseheads.

Along the way, the undrafted junior also was catching the eye of the Red Wings, who would sign the free agent to a pro contract.

“I started to talk in January,” Doucet said. “I couldn’t sign before March 1. Talked to a couple of teams and it was really Detroit. They like the way I play. They told me to just keep continuing working on my speed and everything.”

When he was never made a selection the NHL entry draft, Doucet did not despair. Instead, he would utilize being overlooked as inspiration that was helping to grow his game.

“Even my draft year I knew I wasn’t going to get drafted, so it’s more like not being drafted is motivation,” Doucet explained. “It’s my first camp, too, so it’s just hard work and not being drafted, not having camp and finally I had a great year last year as a 20-year-old. A couple of teams saw that and the Red Wings, too.”

Continued