Red Wings forward is due for a pay day soon: Yzerman's pockets will be hurting

With forward Alex DeBrincat performing beyond expectations for the Detroit Red Wings, it's a blessing, but it could be a curse. This season, he's been a cornerstone for the Original Six team.

In 35 games this season, he's produced above a point-per-game level, scoring 39 points (20-19), and is a fixture on the team's second line. As a top-six forward whose contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 season, GM Steve Yzerman may have to back up the Brinks truck.

DeBrincat's contract pays him $7.875 million average annual value per PuckPedia, a deal which he signed on July 9th, 2023, with the Red Wings. The four-year deal rewards the former 30+ goal scorer for his ability to produce points and snipe goals.

Last season, he scored 70 points (39-31) and played a full 82-game season as one of the Red Wings' best forwards.

The Farmington Hills, Michigan-born forward will certainly look to increase his payday as his elite skills have paid off handsomely for a team that's atop the Atlantic Division.

Alex DeBrincat has been one of the team's most productive forwards, and each season in a Red Wings jersey we've seen him produce consistent numbers as a goal-scorer: 67 points (2023-24), 70 points (2024-25) and now the 5-foot-8 forward who plays above his physical stature could secure a nice raise when free agency rolls around next July.

While there were questions about his capabilities in the first eight games of the year when he went without a single goal, he's since found his rhythm.

He's known as a streaky scorer, but at this point in the season, he leads both Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond in points and goals. DeBrincat's production has led him to complete franchise history not witnessed in years in 2025-26.

DeBrincat's value goes beyond the scoresheet, as he's helped bring Patrick Kane here to keep him beyond one year. Another player who's helped push the Red Wings beyond where they were before as bottom-dwellers.

The chemistry between the two is invaluable, as we see them feed off the same kind of play that the two executed in Chicago for five seasons, and now the Red Wings benefit from a Blackhawks teardown.

We could only speculate what DeBrincat could sign for on his next contract, but it should be a nice payday for the forward. Of course, he'll need it after the llife changing news he received at the beginning of December.