Alex DeBrincat has no intention of testing free agency.
The Detroit Red Wings sniper said Tuesday that he plans to re-sign with his hometown club, even as the team navigates uncertainty without a head of hockey operations and a captain who wants to be traded.
"When a new GM (is announced), I’m sure there’s going to be some conversations, but you know, as of right now, my opinion hasn’t changed," the Farmington Hills, Mich., naive said at the Player Media Tour in Vegas on Tuesday, according to NHL.com. "I love playing for the Red Wings. I love wearing that jersey and battling with those guys out there. My intention is obviously to stay in Detroit. We’ll see what happens, I guess."
The Red Wings' search for a new general manager is nearing the two-month mark after Steve Yzerman left the post in July after seven years and no playoff appearances. The new head of hockey operations will have plenty of big decisions to make once they step into the role, including negotiating a contract with DeBrincat, who is coming off a 41-goal season and could be one of the top unrestricted free agents in the market next summer.
Also on the agenda for the new hire will be a contract for defenceman Simon Edvinsson and a resolution to Dylan Larkin's trade request. That trade request has soured the relationship between Larkin and the fanbase, but with only weeks to go before the season starts, it seems more and more likely that the captain will still be with the team when the puck drops.
DeBrincat would be happy if that were the case.
"From my perspective, he’s a great teammate, he’s a great friend of mine, and that’s a decision he made," DeBrincat said of Larkin's ask-out. "That’s about as far as I’m going to go there. He’s always been a great teammate to me and a great friend. I feel like at this moment our team is definitely better with him, and he’s still our leader. He’s still one of our best players. That’s the way it is."
