Like everyone else this summer, Alex DeBrincat was watching and waiting to see whether Patrick Kane would come back to Detroit. But as a longtime linemate and friend, there was a bit more personal at stake.
Luckily for DeBrincat and the Red Wings, Kane and Detroit’s front office found a way to make a second year work. Showtime will remain with the Red Wings this season after signing a one-year contract right before free agency. The move isn’t just a nod of faith in the Red Wings’ playoff aspirations, but it’s also a big deal for DeBrincat, a player who looks up to Kane.
“We were talking most of the summer, I think he didn’t necessarily know what he was going to do,” DeBrincat said Friday. “At the end of the day, I think he knew he liked playing here. He loved the fans and loved the team — just loved being a Red Wing. So, him coming back was huge for our team, and obviously it’s great for me and him.”
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
DeBrincat and Kane spent most of last season written together on the line sheet, a natural continuation of their five seasons playing together in Chicago. With both Dylan Larkin and J.T. Compher centering them, the duo created two of the three most productive forward lines for Detroit in terms of expected goals. Using Kane’s playmaking and DeBrincat’s shot, the two naturally complement each other on the ice.
“The way (Kane) plays, I think you try to look at how he plays,” DeBrincat said. “He creates so much, so you try to take some of that same stuff and put it in your own game. But obviously he’s pretty special so you can’t take too much. You take what you can and let him do the rest.”
As Kane sticks with Detroit, his and DeBrincat’s future together isn’t a certainty given their usage on separate lines thus far in training camp. What is clear is that the Red Wings will benefit from Kane’s offensive production no matter who plays with him. And coming off an offseason where he could train not only for injury rehab but also for personal progression, Kane hopes to be in for a big year.
Even just having Kane around as a mentor is a big deal for DeBrincat. This is a guy whose families hang out together, who has also had a pronounced impact on his career since he was a rookie.
This Kane effect spans across the entire roster,…