Alex DeBrincat

American winger for the Detroit Red Wings, former OHL star and Blackhawks All-Star.

Alexander Lloyd DeBrincat (born December 18, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a winger for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round, 39th overall, of the 2016 NHL entry draft. He has previously played for the Blackhawks and the Ottawa Senators.

Quick Facts

Born: 18 December 1997
Birthplace: Farmington Hills, Michigan, U.S.
Position: Winger
Shoots: Right
League: NHL
Team: Detroit Red Wings
Former teams: Chicago Blackhawks; Ottawa Senators
Draft: 39th overall

Lore & Background

Born in Farmington Hills, Michigan, DeBrincat spent one year at Harrison High School before transferring to Lake Forest Academy in Illinois. He had planned to play college ice hockey in Massachusetts but signed with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the 2014–15 season. There, he set a franchise record with over 50 goals and 100 points in his first season, and he won the Emms Family Award and CHL Rookie of the Year trophies. During the 2016–17 season, DeBrincat became the all-time Otters goal leader and the top scorer of any OHL player born in the United States. He won the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy, Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy, Red Tilson Trophy, and CHL Player of the Year award for his performance. He spent three years with the Otters, becoming the second player in OHL history to score 50 goals and 100 points all three years.

Reader's Guide

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

Did You Know?

DeBrincat's favorite ice hockey player as a child was Pavel Datsyuk, who played for the Detroit Red Wings from 2001 to 2016.
He scored his first NHL goal on October 10, 2017, beating Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens.
DeBrincat finished his OHL career with 167 goals and 332 points in 191 regular season games.

Frequently Asked Questions

What role does Alex DeBrincat play on the Red Wings?

As a prolific scorer, DeBrincat serves as an elite offensive winger tasked with generating high-end goal-scoring opportunities. His primary job is to utilize his quick hands and shooting touch to lead the team's attack.

What were Alex DeBrincat's achievements before joining Detroit?

Before his NHL career, he set franchise rookie records for goals and points while playing junior hockey for the Erie Otters. He later established himself as a top scorer in Chicago and Ottawa, proving his ability to dominate at the professional level.

How did Alex DeBrincat enter the NHL?

DeBrincat entered the league after being selected 39th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the 2016 Entry Draft. He spent several seasons developing his game with Chicago and Ottawa before signing with Detroit.