HSJ on DeBrincat deal: offering the GM’s perspective

The Free Press’s Helene St. James weighed in regarding the Alex DeBrincat trade today, and she emphasizes Steve Yzerman’s perspective in having completed his main summertime task:

Steve Yzerman has a few administrative things to take care of this week, but otherwise, things are about to dramatically slow down.

That was Yzerman’s report Monday from his office suite at Little Caesars Arena, where his list of 2023-24 Detroit Red Wings now includes Alex DeBrincat. It took about two weeks of chatting with his Ottawa Senators counterpart to get the deal finalized, and the end result is adding the offensive firepower the Wings needed.

“We talked about adding goal-scoring ability to the team and I think Alex definitely fits that bill,” Yzerman said. “I think he’s a very intelligent hockey player. He has shown he can score goals at every level – at the junior level, at the NHL level. Very intelligent player. He’ll fit in nicely on the wing with us, whoever the coach decides to play with him. 

“I would say I think we’re a better team today with Alex DeBrincat in the lineup. I hope all the changes we’ve made, additions we’ve made, make us a more competitive team.”

It cost Dominik Kubalik, a veteran winger who scored 20 goals last season; mid-range defense prospect Donovan Sebrango, and a conditional first-round and fourth-round pick in 2024. The condition is the Wings get to choose between their own or the one they got from the Boston Bruins in the Tyler Bertuzzi trade, so that, Yzerman said, “gives us a little protection.” The Wings turned around and signed DeBrincat for four years at a $7.875 million annual average value.

“It was a number we were both comfortable with,” Yzerman said. “Bringing a player in, things are changing. You’re starting to see more players signing shorter-term contracts, not necessarily going the full seven and eight years. We discussed four and five and we were both comfortable doing four years.”

Continued

Detroit News’s Bianchi weighs in on the Yzerman and DeBrincat pressers

The Detroit News’s Nolan Bianchi is the first to post an article regarding the comments made by Steve Yzerman and Alex DeBrincat this morning:

“It’s definitely a dream come true,” DeBrincat said Monday about playing for his hometown team. “I do have to say, I don’t think anyone’s happier than my parents. It’s a full-family (thing), everyone’s happy and it’s a good spot for me.”

DeBrincat, 25, was traded from Ottawa to the Red Wings Sunday night in a deal that sent back defense prospect Donovan Sebrango, 27-year-old winger Dominik Kubalik, a conditional first-round pick in 2024 and a 2024 fourth-rounder. DeBrincat, who was in his final offseason as a restricted free agent, signed a four-year extension with Detroit with a $7.875 average annual value (AAV).

At his introductory Zoom press conference Monday — where he was wearing a teal Detroit Pistons hat — he was clear on the expectations for his arrival in Hockeytown. It’s not all about feel-good stories and playing close to home.

“They were just so successful through my whole childhood. It was so fun to watch. That’s a big reason why I play the game. To get to that point, that success, is definitely a goal of mine. Hopefully, we can be successful here again,” DeBrincat said.

“Obviously, early in my career, (the Red Wings were) deep in the rebuild. These past couple years, you can see that the compete level has definitely been higher. You see a team that’s maybe frustrated with being in a rebuild and wants to get out. So, I’m excited to be here and join that and hopefully be part of the solution to get out of that. … I definitely see the potential in this group.”

Between DeBrincat, captain Dylan Larkin (Waterford), centers Andrew Copp (Ann Arbor) and Austin Czarnik (Washington Township), the Red Wings now roster four Michigan-born players. Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said there’s an “added benefit” of a player “being more invested” when they play for their hometown team.

Continued

Audio: 97.1 the Ticket debates whether the Red Wings are a playoff team

Per the “Stoney and Jansen with Heather” show:

Tweets of note: A DeBrincat highlight clip, and quotes of note

The NHL posted an Alex DeBrincat highlight reel…

And the Red Wings posted this:

More DeBrincat trade analysis from EP Rinkside

EP Rinkside’s Dmitri Filipovic breaks down the DeBrincat trade from an analytical perspective:

When we wrote up our main takeaways from July 1st’s spending spree recently, I was rather critical of how the Red Wings were going about their business. For the second straight summer, they were aggressively dipping into the free agent market and investing legitimate resources in players that didn’t really make sense for their purposes. 

It wasn’t even a critique of the players themselves in isolation, it was purely a question about the awkwardness of how they fit within big-picture plans. Detroit isn’t nearly good enough right now, nor are they close enough to seriously competing in the immediate future to justify that sort of team building approach. Tying up money years down the road on players who already aren’t legitimate difference-makers into their late 20s and early 30s is an easy way to limit your upside for growth as an organization, and to make sure that you’re stuck in the purgatory that is the mushy middle in the NHL.

DeBrincat is an entirely different story however. Even when applying the context of where the Red Wings are currently at as an organization, it’s still nearly impossible not to like this deal from their perspective. He turns just 26 a couple of months into the season, and they now have him for his 26, 27, 28, and 29-year-old campaigns. They essentially managed to get him for the remainder of his most productive seasons, without having to pay for any of the stuff at the back end that you’d typically pinch your nose about and attempt to justify as the price of doing business. 

Not only is he a really good player, but he’s also conveniently one who possesses the type of the skill that the Red Wings are desperate for in the worst way. To put it bluntly, their offence last year was awful. 

At 5-on-5 Detroit finished 28th in scoring, 31st in high danger chances generated, and had this monstrosity of a shot chart. 

The area where he’ll help provide a much needed shot in the arm most specifically is off of the rush. Regularly creating quality looks in today’s game has become largely dependant on your ability to attack in transition, so it’s no surprise that a team like the Red Wings struggled so mightily offensively in 2022-2023. 

Continued (paywall)

Toledo Walleye submit qualifying offers to seven players

Per the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye:

The Toledo Walleye announced today its list of players that have received qualifying offers for the 2023-24 season. Information regarding qualified players is listed below.

Forwards Gordie Green, Carson Denomie, Lukas Craggs, Brett McKenzie and defensemen Cole Fraser, Adrien Beraldo and Riley McCourt have received qualifying offers.

Each team was entitled to reserve the rights to a maximum of eight qualified players. Of the eight qualified players, no more than four could be veterans (260 regular season professional hockey games played as of the start of the upcoming 2023-24 season). Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded.

The qualifying offer must remain open for acceptance until July 22 at which time the qualifying offer becomes null and void and the team may sign the qualified player to any salary or may elect to take no further action. Teams that extend a valid qualifying offer to a non-veteran player shall retain the rights to that qualified player for one playing season.

Continue reading Toledo Walleye submit qualifying offers to seven players

DobberHockey discusses DeBrincat’s fantasy hockey value

DobberHockey’s Ian Gooding discusses the fantasy hockey ramifications of the Alex DeBrincat trade this morning:

Fantasy players impacted: DeBrincat is a huge get for the Red Wings, who had only one 30-goal scorer last season (Dylan Larkin) with no other player reaching 25 goals. DeBrincat has two 40-goal seasons under his belt in addition to another 30-goal season over his six NHL seasons. He immediately upgrades the Wings scoring and should boost Larkin’s value should the two line up on the top line and first-unit power play. Lucas Raymond, a frequent linemate of Larkin’s last season, also stands to benefit, especially if the Wings run a first line of DeBrincat – Larkin – Raymond.

The Red Wings power play should likely include the aforementioned first line plus David Perron and Moritz Seider. That means the likelihood of the Wings running a 3 F – 2 D power play with Shayne Gostisbehere on the point is also reduced. Or perhaps recent signing J.T. Compher was penciled in as that fourth forward, but he should get bumped by DeBrincat. At this point, it’s nothing more than an opportunity cost for Ghost and Compher and more reflects what could have been instead of a straight points deduction. Perron has recorded at least 20 power-play points over each of his last four seasons, so he probably isn’t going anywhere and could also stand to benefit in a small way.

In his one season in Ottawa, DeBrincat seemed to split time with Claude Giroux and Drake Batherson on the other wing with a variety of centers, most often Shane Pinto. These were his three top Even Strength Best Linemates, according to Frozen Tools. In addition, Batherson was often on the first-unit power play with DeBrincat, so he stands to lose the most out of any Senators player. Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle could also see a mild deduction in power-play points as well.

Continued