The Detroit Red Wings haven’t sniffed the playoffs in a decade, and now their roster might get blown up in a major way. Captain Dylan Larkin has reportedly asked for a trade, but according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, there’s another Detroit forward drawing calls from around the league: Alex DeBrincat.
Pagnotta reports that while teams are working trade talks with Detroit for Larkin, several clubs have also inquired about the availability of the 28-year-old sniper. It’s not clear yet if the Red Wings are willing to move him, but the interest is real.
The numbers that make DeBrincat a hot commodity
DeBrincat just put up 41 goals and 85 points last season, leading the team in both categories. He’s entering the final year of his contract with a $7.875 million cap hit for 2026-27. He’ll turn 29 during next season. That’s a prime-age goal scorer on an expiring deal — exactly the kind of player contenders love to target.
If Detroit ends up trading Larkin, that basically signals another rebuild under GM Steve Yzerman. And if you’re rebuilding, a 29-year-old winger on a one-year deal doesn’t fit the timeline. That’s where a DeBrincat trade starts to make sense for both sides.
Which teams are calling?
Pagnotta listed six squads that have been exploring the market for a top-line scoring winger and could turn their attention to DeBrincat. Those teams include the Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Seattle Kraken, and Buffalo Sabres.
Both Seattle and St. Louis tried to trade for Jason Robertson earlier, but the Dallas Stars winger reportedly didn’t want to go to either franchise. Could they pivot to DeBrincat instead? The Kraken need scoring. The Blues need scoring. DeBrincat can provide it.
The Blackhawks have an interesting history with DeBrincat. He started his career in Chicago, spending five seasons there before being traded to Ottawa. But Chicago already traded away their first-round pick in this year’s draft, which makes a reunion more complicated from a trade-asset standpoint.
Toronto and Edmonton are obvious fits — both teams need wingers who can finish plays. New Jersey has cap space and a need for a proven goal scorer on the wing. Buffalo is always lurking in these conversations, though their internal cap situation is tricky.
What happens if both guys go?
If the Red Wings trade both Larkin and DeBrincat, they’re basically committing to an 11th straight season without playoff hockey. That’s a brutal reality for a fanbase that once took postseason hockey for granted. But Yzerman has shown he’s not afraid to tear things down and start over. He did it in Tampa. He’s doing it in Detroit.
The real question is whether moving DeBrincat now — when his value is high and his contract is short — is smarter than keeping him through a rebuild where he might not want to stay anyway. Detroit hasn’t confirmed anything publicly, but the phone keeps ringing.
Leave a Comment