The Detroit Red Wings may soon have a much bigger Alex DeBrincat decision than anyone expected.
With Dylan Larkin requesting a trade and Detroit navigating a major organizational transition, attention is beginning to shift toward DeBrincat, who is entering the final year of his contract after producing the best offensive season of his NHL career.
DeBrincat exploded for 41 goals and 44 assists for 85 points in 82 games last season, leading the Red Wings in goals and points. Now comes the uncomfortable question: if Detroit moves Larkin and takes another step backward, does DeBrincat still want to sign the massive contract extension he appears positioned to command?
There is an important distinction here. DeBrincat has not reportedly requested a trade, and earlier this year he publicly expressed a desire to stay in Detroit. But circumstances around him are changing quickly.
That is why I believe DeBrincat could become one of the most important names to watch on the NHL trade market if Detroit cannot establish a clear path toward contention.
Why Alex DeBrincat’s Future Is Suddenly a Detroit Red Wings Priority
The Hockey News recently raised the possibility that Larkin’s situation could eventually influence DeBrincat’s long-term commitment to the Detroit Red Wings.
It’s a legitimate question.
DeBrincat is 28 years old and coming off a career-high 85-point season. His 41 goals matched his career high, while his 44 assists established a new personal best. He isn’t a declining veteran Detroit can simply move as part of a rebuild. He’s an elite goal scorer who should still have several prime offensive seasons ahead of him.
Alex DeBrincat Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 191 | 39 | 47 | 86 | -4 |
| Playoffs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The problem is his contract clock.
Alex DeBrincat’s Contract Changes the Equation
DeBrincat carries a $7.875 million salary-cap hit for the 2026-27 season and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. His contract also contains a 16-team modified no-trade clause, giving him considerable influence over where Detroit could move him.
The rising NHL salary cap makes his next contract especially interesting.
The NHL’s 2026-27 ceiling is $104 million, with the 2027-28 ceiling currently projected at $113.5 million.
Here is my own salary-cap projection for DeBrincat.
At an $11.5 million AAV, DeBrincat would consume approximately 10.13 percent of a $113.5 million cap.
At $12 million, that rises to approximately 10.57 percent.
At $12.25 million, it would be approximately 10.79 percent.
Based on his goal production, age, projected cap growth and importance to Detroit’s offense, I believe $11.5 million to $12.25 million annually is a reasonable negotiating range if his production remains near its current level.
Under the new CBA beginning September 16, 2026, players re-signing with their current club can receive a maximum seven-year contract. That means a hypothetical seven-year deal at $12 million per season would represent an $84 million commitment by Detroit.
That is no longer a routine extension. It is a franchise-direction decision.
DeBrincat Previously Made His Feelings About Detroit Clear
This is where the rumor requires some perspective.
During Detroit’s season-ending period in April, DeBrincat made it clear he enjoyed playing for his hometown team.
“I love it here,” DeBrincat said, while also referring to Detroit as his home.
He later indicated that he wanted to remain part of the Red Wings for a long time.
That matters because there has been no confirmed report as of August 15 that DeBrincat has reversed that position or requested a trade.
What has changed is the environment surrounding him.
Larkin’s trade request, Detroit’s management transition, and questions about whether the Red Wings will retool or take a bigger step backward could force DeBrincat to reevaluate whether Detroit gives him the best chance to compete during his prime.
My Take: Detroit Cannot Afford to Let This Situation Drift
This is where I believe the Red Wings have to be decisive.
If DeBrincat tells management he is willing to sign a long-term extension and Detroit plans to build around Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider and its emerging prospects, keeping him makes sense.
Forty-goal scorers are exceptionally difficult to replace.
But if DeBrincat is unwilling to extend after seeing the direction Detroit takes with Larkin, the Red Wings cannot repeat the classic mistake of carrying a premium asset deep into his walk year and hoping everything works itself out.
Detroit would need to seriously investigate the trade market.
For me, the decision point isn’t necessarily the 2027 trade deadline. It should be much earlier. The longer Detroit waits, the more leverage potentially shifts toward the player and interested teams.
NHLTradeRumor.com Trade Value Index: Alex DeBrincat
Using our NHLTradeRumor.com Trade Value Index, DeBrincat grades as an extremely valuable offensive asset, although his expiring contract and modified no-trade clause prevent his score from reaching elite long-term-control territory.
My projected trade value: 74/100. If Detroit actually put DeBrincat on the market, I would expect the Red Wings to seek a package built around a first-round pick and a high-quality young player or prospect rather than simply accumulating mid-round draft capital.
Could Alex DeBrincat Actually Be Traded?
Right now, I would classify an Alex DeBrincat trade as plausible speculation rather than an active trade situation.
That’s an important difference.
There is no verified indication that Detroit is shopping him, and DeBrincat’s most recent public comments strongly suggested he wanted to stay.
But the Dylan Larkin situation changes the calculation.
If Larkin is traded and Detroit signals that another multi-year retool is coming, DeBrincat will have to decide whether spending the prime of his career waiting for that plan to develop makes sense.
Detroit will have to make the same calculation from the other side.
That’s why DeBrincat might quietly become one of the biggest NHL trade names to monitor during the 2026-27 season.
And if extension talks don’t progress?
The speculation could turn into something much more substantial very quickly.
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