Alex DeBrincat wants a big new contract from the Detroit Red Wings, and the early talks already hit a wall.
This week, insider David Pagnotta reported that DeBrincat's camp sat down with ex general manager Steve Yzerman, and the number on the table got balked at.
DeBrincat is coming off a monster season in Detroit. He posted 85 points on 41 goals and 44 assists across 82 games.
He closed strong too. Over his final 10 games, DeBrincat put up 5 goals and 3 assists for 8 points.
Special teams carried plenty of that production. DeBrincat scored 15 power play goals last season, a number that stands out on any forward's resume.
Right now he carries a cap hit of $7,875,000. Whatever gets signed next will cost Detroit a lot more than that.
Detroit finished last season with 92 points, but the group leaked goals all year, landing at minus-17 in differential.
Red Wings face a defining call on their leading scorer
They dropped their final three games of the year, including an ugly 1-8 loss on the road at Florida to close things out.
DeBrincat also finished with 6 game-winning goals and a plus-8 rating, more proof he was Detroit's most complete scoring threat.
DeBrincat was the best offensive weapon on that roster. Letting him walk, or watching him play out a contract year unhappy, guts the top six overnight.
Yzerman has never been afraid to say no. He built this roster on tight asset management, and one bloated forward deal changes that math fast.
The problem though is that Dylan Larkin wants out and Alex DeBrincat has only one season left before free agency. Detroit couldn't let that happen and Yzerman seemed unyielding.
This DeBrincat situation could very well be linked to Yzerman's exit as Detroit's GM.
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Should the Red Wings pay Alex DeBrincat whatever it takes to keep him?
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