Alex DeBrincat

Lore & Background

DeBrincat played junior hockey for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, where he set a franchise record with over 50 goals and 100 points in his first season and won the Emms Family Award and CHL Rookie of the Year. He spent three years with the Otters, becoming the second player in OHL history to score 50 goals and 100 points all three years. During the 2016–17 season, he became the all-time Otters goal leader and the top scorer of any OHL player born in the United States, winning the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy, Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy, Red Tilson Trophy, and CHL Player of the Year award.

DeBrincat joined the Blackhawks for the 2017–18 season, experiencing goal streaks and droughts as a rookie, including three hat-tricks. He surpassed his rookie scoring totals in 2018–19 but fell into a slump during the 2019–20 season, particularly when not on the power play. His offensive production improved during the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, during which he maintained a pace of over a point per game. He continued this production the following year when he represented the Blackhawks at the NHL All-Star Game and recorded his second 40-goal season.

Reader's Guide

Alex DeBrincat's tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks is notable for his emergence as a consistent goal scorer after being drafted in the second round. His junior career with the Erie Otters established him as one of the most prolific American-born scorers in OHL history, with 167 goals and 332 points in 191 regular season games. With the Blackhawks, he overcame early rookie inconsistencies to become a reliable offensive contributor, highlighted by two 40-goal seasons and an All-Star Game selection. His production during the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, where he maintained a point-per-game pace, demonstrated his ability to perform under unusual circumstances. DeBrincat's time in Chicago ended after the 2021–22 season, but his scoring achievements there remain a significant part of his professional legacy.

Did You Know?

• DeBrincat's favorite ice hockey player as a child was Pavel Datsyuk, who played for the Detroit Red Wings.
• He scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens.
• He won the CHL Player of the Year award for his 2016–17 season with the Erie Otters.