What Should the Detroit Red Wings Do With Alex Debrincat?

The Detroit Red Wings have some big decisions to make in the near future, but perhaps the most important involves star winger Alex DeBrincat.

Alex DeBrincat of the Detroit Red Wings. / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Detroit Red Wings have been one of the most underwhelming teams in the NHL over the past decade, and with just one top-five pick and no appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, this is a team whose future remains uncertain moving forward.

Add to that the uncertainty with Dylan Larkin's future following the departure of Steve Yzerman as General Manager and President of Hockey Operations, and things get even more murky for the Original Six franchise.

That leaves them with a major decision, and with a clear lack of elite-level talent coming through the organization, there have been suggestions of a potential rebuild. Whether or not that's the case, the team has a massive decision to make on veteran winger Alex DeBrincat.

Should the Red Wings Keep or Deal Alex DeBrincat?

Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat ( Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Back in July of 2023, the Red Wings gave up a first-round pick, a third-round pick and Donovan Sebrango in exchange for the budding superstar from the Ottawa Senators, and in the process, signed him to a four-year extension worth $7.875 million per season as they added him to a top-six led by Larkin.

Individually, DeBrincat has been fantastic for Detroit, posting 107 goals and 222 points in 246 games played, and as a result of a career-high 41 goals in 2025/26, his value has likely never been higher.

That four-year deal will come to an end after the 2026/27 regular season. While the Red Wings would love to keep the 28-year-old around, they need to decide whether they're going to make a move to surround him with more talent or whether they should look for a rebuild around the duo of Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider.

Realistically, this team on paper isn't doing much in 2026/27 in the toughest division in the NHL, and unless DeBrincat commits long-term before the season, their decision should be clear: move DeBrincat for future assets and build around their young talent.

However, part of DeBrincat signing in Detroit was being close to his family as he is from Michigan, and given recent reports, it appears as though he won't want to leave due to that proximity. If the Red Wings want assets back and can't find a number that makes sense for both player and team though, this is still a situation that could best be resolved via trade, with the 28-year-old having a 16-team no trade list.

How Will Dylan Larkin's Future Effect This Decision?

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Given the change in management, with no replacement yet in sight, there is a belief that things could change with Dylan Larkin and his trade request, but with his desire to play with Team USA Olympic teammates in the NHL, all signs still point to a trade happening.

If that's the case, that decision will likely decide the Red Wings path forward, and if they can get a haul of futures, dealing DeBrincat becomes that much easier. But if they land some NHL-ready talent, as Yzerman wanted before his departure, perhaps a long-term extension for a very productive player makes the most sense.

Ultimately, the Red Wings have some huge calls to make, and their overall direction that they choose under a new GM and POHO will lead them to make decisions on both Larkin and DeBrincat. The answer is simple: if you want to keep DeBrincat near his family and contend, move Larkin for NHL-ready talent and try to make a push. But if you move him for futures, the 28-year-old DeBrincat should be dealt too.