The Detroit Red Wings may have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 2024-25 NHL season, but one of the major positives that they will be taking into the upcoming 2025-26 campaign was the goal scoring output of forward Alex DeBrincat.
DeBrincat, who was acquired just over two calendar years ago from the Ottawa Senators, scored 39 goals in what was his second season with the Red Wings. It was a 12-goal improvement from his output of 27 in 2023-24, and was also the most he'd scored since tallying 41 in the 2021-22 NHL season with the Chicago Blackhawks.
In fact, DeBrincat's 39 tallies were the most by any Red Wings player in a single season since Marian Hossa lit the lamp 40 times in his first and only campaign with the Red Wings in 2008-09.
Patrick Kane makes a beautiful pass to Alex DeBrincat in his 1,300th NHL game! 🤩 #NHLStats: https://t.co/tvOJyFYJin
📺: @NHLNetworkpic.twitter.com/oHLiP7zsIY
— NHL (@NHL) April 14, 2025
DeBrincat's 2024-25 NHL season output was exactly what was hoped for by Red Wings fans and management when the Michigan native was acquired, and he attributed his increased production not only to his style of play but to less mental stress.
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"There’s a lot of things that contribute to it but overall, I think it's just been a better year," DeBrincat said in April via The Detroit Free Press. "Mentally, a lot less hard on me. I've tried to stay more consistent – that was a goal of mine this year. Overall I feel like I’ve been a lot more consistent, not only with points and goals, but just the way I’ve been playing and being a factor every night."
That being said, DeBrincat also acknowledged his disappointment in the fact that he and his teammates weren't able to secure a berth in the postseason.
"Overall I think it’s a fine year, but obviously not good enough," he said. "With the position we’re in, everybody in the room wants more, feels like they can contribute more."
Upon his acquisition by the Red Wings, DeBrincat signed a four-year, $31.5 million contract with a reasonable $7.875 million cap hit.
DeBrincat and the Red Wings are aiming for bigger and better things as they begin preparations to enter the crucial 2025-26 NHL season.
If the Red Wings are to challenge for a postseason spot and ultimately get over the hump to bring postseason hockey to Little Caesars Arena for the first time, they'll need DeBrincat to keep the form that made him Detroit's leading goal scorer in 16 years.
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