Experts love Steve Yzerman’s trade for DeBrincat
Big addition lends credence to GM’s long-term rebuild
The Detroit Red Wings seemingly boosted their lagging rebuild with the trade acquisition of Alex DeBrincat on Sunday evening from the Ottawa Senators.
General manager Steve Yzerman has remained patient adhering to his plan, but entering Year 5, he finally deemed it the right time and right price to make a big addition on the trade market.
DeBrincat, who grew up in Farmington Hills, has twice scored at least 40 goals in a season and is one of 12 players with at least 100 goals over the past three seasons combined. He is in his prime at 25 years old despite a down 202223 season.
The Red Wings signed DeBrincat to a new four-year deal with an average annual value of about $7.9 million, and there is hope this is the squad ripe to break the franchise’s playoff drought of seven seasons.
Yzerman in return to Ottawa sent forward Dominik Kubalik, defensive prospect Donovan Sebrango, a conditional first-round pick and a fourth-round pick, and has been lauded for the deal.
Here’s how writers around the league reac- ted with trade grades for the Red Wings.
The Score, Nick Faris
Red Wings grade: A-.
The reason: “His contract projects to be team-friendly. If DeBrincat shoots as often as he did in Ottawa and his success rate normalizes, he’ll be the first Wings player to flirt with 40 goals since Marian Hossa buried that many in 2009. Even in a down year, DeBrincat’s 11 power-play tallies ranked in the top 30 leaguewide. His presence on the PP will divert attention from Larkin and elevate the whole first unit.”
The Hockey Writers, Alex Chauvancy
Red Wings grade: A-.
The reason: “If DeBrincat rebounds, there’s good reason to believe he’ll be worth more than $7.875 million per year. After a series of questionable moves in free agency, that was a tidy bit of business by Yzerman and the Red Wings in acquiring scoring help.”
ESPN, Greg Wyshynski
Red Wings grade: A.
The reason: “The Alex DeBrincat trade is a huge win for Detroit and an indication that the Yzerplan might lead the Red Wings back to prominence. He’s a clear upgrade over Kubalik, although not nearly the cap bargain for the output. Sebrango was expendable for the Red Wings given their depth on defense in their prospect pool. And obviously the Red Wings are fine giving up the first — it’s not like they’re ever winning the lottery anyway.”
The Athletic, Shayna Goldman
Red Wings grade: The reason:
A.
“The Wings were a bottom-five team in 2022-23 in offensive creation, from a shot volume and quality standpoint, along with their actual finishing. This roster needed an infusion of offensive pop, especially off the rush, and DeBrincat, at his best, can bring that. ... DeBrincat’s new cap hit is in line with what he’s worth right now, based on his play to this point. The four-year extension with an AAV of $7.87 million comes in below what EvolvingHockey projected, which was a seven-year deal with an $8.58 million cap hit.”