With a hat trick and four-point performance against the Calgary Flames on Sunday, Alex DeBrincat put himself at the top of the NHL scoring list.
After being traded to the Detroit Red Wings by the Ottawa Senators last July, the Michigan native now has points in five of his first six games in the Motor City, including eight goals and four assists for 12 points, leading the league in both goals and points.
A second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft for the Chicago Blackhawks, DeBrincat shined in five seasons with the Blackhawks, recording 160 goals and 147 assists for 307 points during that span. When Chicago decided to rebuild and tear down the roster, they dealt DeBrincat to the Senators.
After scoring 27 goals and 39 assists for 66 points in 2022-23, DeBrincat became a restricted free agent but was uninterested in re-signing with the Sens, leading to him being traded to Detroit and signing a four-year, $31M deal.
The Red Wings are now 5-1-0 to start the year and looking to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
On Monday’s episode of "Daily Faceoff LIVE," Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss the two-time 40-goal scoring winger’s hot start, and if the 25-year-old is the best acquisition from the past offseason.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Is there a chance Alex DeBrincat will go down as the best offseason addition from the summer? Eight goals in six games, a league-leading 12 points in that span as well, Frank. He’s looking good!
Frank Seravalli: He’s looking good and it is possible because when you consider the whole grand picture, they didn’t really give up a lot to get him. They were leveraged and in a spot where the Ottawa Senators couldn’t really create a lot of marketplace for him. He wanted to go home to Detroit, and it’s obvious how comfortable he’s been with the team, who have been lights out to start the year.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Averaging five goals a year, 5-1-0 to start the year, and that’s after losing their first game of the year, they’ve rattled off five straight wins.
You can watch the full show here…
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