Fantasy Hockey: Alex DeBrincat Is A Red Wing
Alex DeBrincat has been traded to the Red Wings, but what does it mean from a fantasy hockey perspective? Bagdonas already handed out the trade grades. Now it’s time for me to step in and talk about how you should value DeBrincat in fantasy. Let’s get right to it.
I may be in the minority here but I think the move to Detroit helps his fantasy value. Ottawa was a better situation but there were too many cooks in the kitchen. DeBrincat was asked to carry a second powerplay unit without getting any looks playing with Tim Stutle or Brady Tkachuk. DeBrincat is now THE guy in Detroit. That alone should increase his value.
Just go back to the Blackhawk days. DeBrincat had a better fantasy year with a bad Blackhawks team compared to a rising Sens team. It makes a difference in getting the proper looks and being the guy. That’s going to be the case in Detroit except with even better talent compared to what he had to work with in Chicago. He’s going to get the premier opportunities with Dylan Larkin as his center. That’s already better than what DeBrincat had with Chicago.
We’re also talking about a guy that pocked 41 goals in that final season in Chicago. I think he can do that again and it’s a great time to buy low. Talent wasn’t the issue in Ottawa. Mediocre coaching, uncertainty with ownership, and a reduced role cost DeBrincat on the stat sheet. Expect a strong bounce-back season where he shatters the 66 points he had a year ago.
