Could Red Wings Trade Alex Debrincat If They Miss the Playoffs?

Wednesday, April 08, 2026
Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat celebrates goal during 2026 game.

The Detroit Red Wings are in serious danger of missing the playoffs for the tenth time in ten years, and the question of what comes next is already starting to surface.

Matt Marchese brought it to Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet's The FAN Hockey Show this week: if Detroit misses the postseason again and decides something has to change, would they consider moving Alex DeBrincat? 

"The hardest thing to do in this league is score," Friedman said. "The first thing you do when you trade a guy like Alex DeBrincat is, uh-oh, where do we find 39 goals from?" Marchese finished the thought: "We look for Alex DeBrincat."

Why DeBrincat Isn't Going Anywhere

DeBrincat has 81 points this season, 39 goals, and has missed four games in his entire NHL career. He's on a 449-game consecutive appearances streak. He leads Detroit in goals, points, power play goals, and shots. 

He's the first American-born player to post an 80-point season in Red Wings history. On a team that has gone 7-10-2 since the Olympic break and ranks 31st in goals per game over that stretch, he's had 24 points in 18 games. 

He's the one guy in that building who genuinely doesn't have anything to answer for right now. Friedman acknowledged he's not approaching this from a place of deep inside knowledge on DeBrincat specifically, but he believes that you don't trade a 39-goal scorer because your team is struggling. Instead, you should try to build around him.

The Contract Extension Question Is Where It Actually Gets Interesting

DeBrincat has one year left at $7.875 million and becomes extension-eligible July 1. 

He's on pace to hit 40 goals for the third time in his career, and the first time as a Red Wing. Players who hit 40 goals get paid. The rumblings suggest his camp could seek a seven-year extension north of $11 million annually. 

Detroit has the cap room to do it, at least on paper, but GM Steve Yzerman also has restricted free agents to re-sign and depth to add to a roster that's been sliding since January. Tying up $11 million in one winger is a real commitment. 

DeBrincat is from Detroit, and he wanted to be here. By all accounts he still does. But loyalty and contract negotiations are two different conversations, and this summer's negotiation is going to be an interesting one to watch. 

Photo Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

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