Alexander DeBrincat (born December 18, 1997) is an American professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
right winger
A midfielder is an outfield position in association football.
Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. As central midfielders often go across boundarie ...
for the
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...
of the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
(NHL). He was selected by the
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...
in the second round, 39th overall, of the
2016 NHL Entry Draft
The 2016 NHL Entry Draft was the 54th NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held on June 24–25, 2016 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. The first three selections were Auston Matthews going to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Patrik Laine go ...
.
Born in
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Part of the affluent suburbs northwest of Detroit, Farmington Hills is the second most-populated city in Oakland County, after Troy, with a population of 83,986 at the 20 ...
, DeBrincat spent one year at
Harrison High School Harrison High School may refer to:
in the United States ''(by state)''
*Harrison High School (Harrison, Arkansas), listed on the National Register of Historic Places
*Harrison High School (Colorado Springs) — Colorado Springs, Colorado
*Harri ...
before transferring to
Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest Academy (also known as LFA) is a co-educational college preparatory school for boarding and day students in grades 9 through 12. The school is located on the North Shore in Lake Forest, Illinois, United States, about 30 miles north o ...
in Illinois. He had planned to play
college ice hockey
College ice hockey is played principally in the United States and Canada, though leagues exist outside North America.
In the United States, competitive "college hockey" refers to ice hockey played between colleges and universities within the g ...
in Massachusetts but signed with the
Erie Otters
The Erie Otters are a Major junior ice hockey team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Midwest division of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), one of only three American teams in the circuit. The team name refers to the North Am ...
of the
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; french: Ligue de hockey de l'Ontario (LHO)) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–19. There are exceptions for overag ...
(OHL) for the
2014–15 season. There, he set a franchise record with over 50
goals
A goal is an objective that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve.
Goal may also refer to:
Sport
* Goal (sports), a method of scoring in many sports, or the physical structure or area where scoring occurs
** Goals, the goal frame in ...
and 100
points
Point or points may refer to:
Places
* Point, Lewis, a peninsula in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland
* Point, Texas, a city in Rains County, Texas, United States
* Point, the NE tip and a ferry terminal of Lismore, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
* Point ...
in his first season, and he won the
Emms Family Award
The Emms Family Award is presented annually to the Rookie of the Year (top first-year player) in the Ontario Hockey League. The winner is also nominated for the CHL Rookie of the Year. The award was donated by Hap Emms. Leighton "Hap" Emms was a c ...
and
CHL Rookie of the Year
The CHL Rookie of the Year Award is given out annually to the top rookie in the Canadian Hockey League. It is chosen from the winners of; the Emms Family Award (OHL Rookie of the Year), the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (WHL Rookie of the Year), an ...
trophies. During the
2016–17 season, DeBrincat became the all-time Otters goal leader, as well as the top scorer of any OHL player born in the United States, and he won the
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy
The Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy is awarded annually by the Ontario Hockey League to the player scoring the most points in the regular season. The trophy was donated by the Toronto Marlboro Athletic Club in memory of athlete and coach Eddie Power ...
,
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy
The Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy is awarded annually by the Ontario Hockey League since 1972, to the right winger who scores the most points in the regular season. The Peterborough Petes donated the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy in his memory to the top s ...
,
Red Tilson Trophy
The Red Tilson Trophy is awarded annually by the Ontario Hockey League to the most outstanding player (MVP) as voted by OHL writers and broadcasters. It was donated by ''The Globe and Mail,'' and first awarded in the 1944–45 OHA season by the O ...
, and
CHL Player of the Year
The CHL Player of the Year award is given out annually to the player judged to be the most outstanding in the Canadian Hockey League. It is selected from three most valuable players of the respective leagues; the Red Tilson Trophy of Ontario Hock ...
award for his performance. He spent three years with the Otters, becoming the second player in OHL history to score 50 goals and 100 points all three years.
DeBrincat joined the Blackhawks for the season, where he experienced goal streaks and droughts as a rookie, including three
hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick is the achievement of a generally positive feat three times in a match, or another achievement based on the number three.
Origin
The term first appeared in 1858 in cricket, to describe H. H. Stephenson taking three wic ...
s. He surpassed his rookie scoring totals in but fell into a slump during the season, particularly when he was not on the
power play
Power play or powerplay or their plurals may refer to:
Sports
* Power play (sporting term), a sporting term used in various games
* Powerplay (cricket), a rule concerning fielding restrictions in one-day international cricket
* Power play (cur ...
. DeBrincat's offensive production improved during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
-shortened season, during which he maintained a pace of over a point per game. DeBrincat continued this production the following year, when he represented the Blackhawks at the
NHL All-Star Game
The National Hockey League All-Star Game (french: Match des Étoiles de la Ligue Nationale de Hockey, links=no) is an exhibition ice hockey game that is traditionally held during the regular season of the National Hockey League (NHL), with many o ...
and recorded his second 40-goal season.
Early life
DeBrincat was born on December 18, 1997, in
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Part of the affluent suburbs northwest of Detroit, Farmington Hills is the second most-populated city in Oakland County, after Troy, with a population of 83,986 at the 20 ...
, to David and Tracey DeBrincat, who met at
Michigan State University
Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...
.
His favorite
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
player as a child was
Pavel Datsyuk
Pavel Valerievich Datsyuk (, ; born 20 July 1978) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player. Datsyuk was nicknamed the "Magic Man" honoring his incredible stickhandling and creativity with the puck. From 2001 to 2016, he played for the ...
, who played for the
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
of the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
(NHL).
DeBrincat attended
Harrison High School Harrison High School may refer to:
in the United States ''(by state)''
*Harrison High School (Harrison, Arkansas), listed on the National Register of Historic Places
*Harrison High School (Colorado Springs) — Colorado Springs, Colorado
*Harri ...
in Farmington Hills for one year before transferring to
Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest Academy (also known as LFA) is a co-educational college preparatory school for boarding and day students in grades 9 through 12. The school is located on the North Shore in Lake Forest, Illinois, United States, about 30 miles north o ...
, a
college preparatory
A college-preparatory school (usually shortened to preparatory school or prep school) is a type of secondary school. The term refers to public, private independent or parochial schools primarily designed to prepare students for higher education ...
school in Illinois.
Because all hockey players at Lake Forest were required to play a spring semester sport, DeBrincat also played
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...
.
In his single season there, he scored 54
goals
A goal is an objective that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve.
Goal may also refer to:
Sport
* Goal (sports), a method of scoring in many sports, or the physical structure or area where scoring occurs
** Goals, the goal frame in ...
and recorded 111
points
Point or points may refer to:
Places
* Point, Lewis, a peninsula in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland
* Point, Texas, a city in Rains County, Texas, United States
* Point, the NE tip and a ferry terminal of Lismore, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
* Point ...
in 50 games.
Playing career
Junior
DeBrincat signed with the
Erie Otters
The Erie Otters are a Major junior ice hockey team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Midwest division of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), one of only three American teams in the circuit. The team name refers to the North Am ...
of the
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; french: Ligue de hockey de l'Ontario (LHO)) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–19. There are exceptions for overag ...
(OHL) as a free agent on April 28, 2014. At the time, he had planned to play
junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a level of competitive ice hockey generally for players between 16 and 21 years of age. Junior hockey leagues in the United States and Canada are considered amateur (with some exceptions) and operate within regions of each cou ...
and then attend the
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass) is a public research university in Amherst, Massachusetts and the sole public land-grant university in Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Founded in 1863 as an agricultural college, it ...
, where he had committed to play
college ice hockey
College ice hockey is played principally in the United States and Canada, though leagues exist outside North America.
In the United States, competitive "college hockey" refers to ice hockey played between colleges and universities within the g ...
for the
Minutemen
Minutemen were members of the organized New England colonial militia companies trained in weaponry, tactics, and military strategies during the American Revolutionary War. They were known for being ready at a minute's notice, hence the name. Mi ...
, but he left Lake Forest to play for the Otters.
Erie general manager
Sherwood Bassin
Sherwood Bassin (born August 14, 1939) is a Canadian ice hockey executive known primarily for 36 years of involvement in the Ontario Hockey League as a general manager, team owner and coach. Bassin successfully turned franchises around, and his ...
had
scouted him during Lake Forest's 8–2 rout of the
Soo Indians
The Soo Eagles are an American junior ice hockey team from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan that plays in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). In 2012, the Eagles bought the North American Hockey League franchise rights of the Traverse C ...
, in which DeBrincat scored three goals and recorded two
assists.
DeBrincat scored his first OHL goal in his first game with the Otters, a 7–1 win over the
Saginaw Spirit
The Saginaw Spirit are a major junior ice hockey team based in Saginaw, Michigan. They are members of the West Division of the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), one of the Major Junior leagues of the Canadian Hockey League ( ...
to open the
2014–15 season. After scoring 10 goals and 21 points in 10 games, DeBrincat was named the OHL Rookie of the Month for October 2014. He followed that with his first junior hockey
hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick is the achievement of a generally positive feat three times in a match, or another achievement based on the number three.
Origin
The term first appeared in 1858 in cricket, to describe H. H. Stephenson taking three wic ...
in a 5–2 win over the
Sarnia Sting
Sarnia is a city in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. It had a 2021 population of 72,047, and is the largest city on Lake Huron. Sarnia is located on the eastern bank of the junction between the Upper and Lower Great Lakes where Lake Huron flo ...
on November 7. He was named the OHL Rookie of the Month again in November with another nine goals and 17 points in 13 games. DeBrincat finished the regular season with a six-point game in Erie's 8–7 win over the
Niagara IceDogs
The Niagara IceDogs are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was originally known as the Mississauga IceDogs and founded in 1996. The team was relocated to St. Cathar ...
. In addition to securing the Otters' 50th win of the season, DeBrincat finished the season with 51 goals and 104 points, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to score 50 goals and 100 points. He added another nine goals and 16 points in 20 playoff games,
but the Otters lost to the
Oshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They are based in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The team is named for General Motors, an early sponsor (commercial), sponsor which has its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. ...
in the
J. Ross Robertson Cup
The J. Ross Robertson Cup is a Canadian ice hockey trophy. It is awarded annually in junior ice hockey to the champion of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. It was donated by John Ross Robertson to the Ontario Hockey Association in 1910, and ...
finals. At the end of the season, DeBrincat followed
Connor McDavid
Connor Andrew McDavid (born January 13, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Oilers selected him first overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
McDavid spen ...
as only the second Otter to win the
Emms Family Award
The Emms Family Award is presented annually to the Rookie of the Year (top first-year player) in the Ontario Hockey League. The winner is also nominated for the CHL Rookie of the Year. The award was donated by Hap Emms. Leighton "Hap" Emms was a c ...
, given to the OHL Rookie of the Year,
and in May, he was named the
CHL Rookie of the Year
The CHL Rookie of the Year Award is given out annually to the top rookie in the Canadian Hockey League. It is chosen from the winners of; the Emms Family Award (OHL Rookie of the Year), the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (WHL Rookie of the Year), an ...
.
He was also named to the OHL All-Rookie First Team and the Second All-Star Team.
On October 1, 2015, DeBrincat scored five goals in the Niagara IceDogs' home opener for the
2015–16 season. The following week, he had a four-goal game against Niagara, giving the Otters a 7–2 win to stay unbeaten through five games. He was named the OHL Player of the Month after scoring 16 goals and 23 points in 12 games, and he followed the award with his third hat-trick of the season, this time against the
Peterborough Petes
The Peterborough Petes are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team has played at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, since 1956, and is the oldest continuously operating team in the league.
...
. That January, DeBrincat was one of two Otters named to the
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
The CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is an annual event in which forty of the top NHL Entry Draft eligible prospects in the Canadian Hockey League play against each other in an all-star game environment. Players are able to boost their draft ranking ...
, playing on Team Cherry.
DeBrincat scored his 50th goal of the season against the
Owen Sound Attack
The Owen Sound Attack are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League based in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. Based in Owen Sound since 1989, and operating under the current name since 2000, the Attack play their home games at the J.D. M ...
on March 17, becoming the first player in franchise history to record consecutive 50-goal seasons and the first OHL player to do so since
Tyler Toffoli
Tyler Toffoli ( ; born April 24, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round, 47th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry ...
in 2011 and 2012. Two days later, he picked up his 100th point with two assists in the Otters' 4–2 win over the
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League. The Knights started out in 1965 as the London Nationals but changed to their cu ...
. DeBrincat finished his sophomore OHL season with 51 goals and 101 points, and he was named to the 2015–16 OHL Third All-Star Team.
Additionally, he was a highly-rated prospect going into the
2016 NHL Entry Draft
The 2016 NHL Entry Draft was the 54th NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held on June 24–25, 2016 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. The first three selections were Auston Matthews going to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Patrik Laine go ...
: the
NHL Central Scouting Bureau The NHL Central Scouting Services (CSS) is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the profe ...
ranked DeBrincat 20th among all North American skaters in their midterm rankings and 21st in their final rankings. In June, he was drafted in the second round, 39th overall, by the
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...
of the NHL. He signed a three-year,
entry-level contract
A two-way contract is a professional sports contract that stipulates that an athlete's salary is dependent upon the league in which the athlete is assigned to play. This is opposed to a one-way contract that would pay the same salary regardless of ...
with the team on November 7, 2016.
After missing the first three games of the
2016–17 season in Blackhawks training camp, DeBrincat returned to the Otters to pick up 15 points in six games. DeBrincat and his teammate
Taylor Raddysh
Taylor Raddysh (born February 18, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Raddysh was drafted in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in the second round (58th) by the Tampa Bay Ligh ...
were named the OHL's Co-Players of the Month for November 2016 after they both scored 27 points in 12 games. He was the first player that season to reach the 30-goal mark, doing so through 28 games. DeBrincat was named the Player of the Month again in February after leading all players with 32 points in 12 games. The month also came with several milestones. He scored his 40th goal of the season and 142nd of his career on February 3 against Peterborough, becoming the Otters' all-time scoring leader. On February 11, his four points against the Saginaw Spirit helped him cross the 300-point marker for his career, and with three points against London the following week, he became the first OHL player to record 100 points during the 2016–17 season. On February 21, DeBrincat joined
Dale McCourt
Dale Allen McCourt, (born January 26, 1957), is a former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted first overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1977 NHL amateur draft.
Junior hockey
McCourt played major junior in the Ontario Hockey Associ ...
as the only two players in OHL history to score 50 goals in three consecutive seasons. He finished the month with two goals against the
Barrie Colts
The Barrie Colts are a junior ice hockey team in Ontario Hockey League, based in Barrie, Ontario, Canada.
Pre-OHL history
There were two previous Barrie Colts teams which played Junior A & B hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association, one from 1 ...
on February 27, putting him ahead of
Rob Schremp
Robert B. Schremp (born July 1, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing for HK Mogo of the Latvian Hockey Higher League. He was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, 25th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry ...
as the OHL's all-time leading goal scorer from the United States. In the final game of the regular season, a 5–2 win over the
Guelph Storm
The Guelph Storm are a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.
History
The franchise started as the Toronto Marlb ...
, DeBrincat scored his 65th goal, a single-season record for the Otters.
With 65 goals and 127 points in 63 games, DeBrincat won the 2017
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy
The Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy is awarded annually by the Ontario Hockey League to the player scoring the most points in the regular season. The trophy was donated by the Toronto Marlboro Athletic Club in memory of athlete and coach Eddie Power ...
for the OHL's leading scorer, as well as the
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy
The Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy is awarded annually by the Ontario Hockey League since 1972, to the right winger who scores the most points in the regular season. The Peterborough Petes donated the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy in his memory to the top s ...
for the top-scoring
right winger
A midfielder is an outfield position in association football.
Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. As central midfielders often go across boundarie ...
in the league.
He was an OHL First-Team All-Star and the recipient of the 2016–17
Red Tilson Trophy
The Red Tilson Trophy is awarded annually by the Ontario Hockey League to the most outstanding player (MVP) as voted by OHL writers and broadcasters. It was donated by ''The Globe and Mail,'' and first awarded in the 1944–45 OHA season by the O ...
, given to the OHL's most outstanding player.
He followed the OHL awards season by being named the
CHL Player of the Year
The CHL Player of the Year award is given out annually to the player judged to be the most outstanding in the Canadian Hockey League. It is selected from three most valuable players of the respective leagues; the Red Tilson Trophy of Ontario Hock ...
.
Although
Warren Foegele
Warren Foegele (born April 1, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who currently plays with the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the third-round, 67th overall, at th ...
won the
Wayne Gretzky 99 Award
The Wayne Gretzky 99 Award is awarded annually to the most valuable player in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. It was first awarded in 1999, and is named for Wayne Gretzky. The recipient is selected by the news/sports media. The award was int ...
for the OHL playoffs' most valuable player, DeBrincat led the playoffs in scoring with 13 goals and 38 points in 22 games as the Otters won the J. Ross Robertson Cup for the second time in franchise history. The Otters lost the
2017 Memorial Cup
The 2017 Memorial Cup (branded as the 2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup for sponsorship reasons) was a four-team, round-robin format tournament held at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario from May 19–28, 2017. It was the 99th Memorial Cup champi ...
finals to the
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1971, the franchise was promoted to the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League for the 1975 ...
of the
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior h ...
, but DeBrincat was named to the
Memorial Cup All-Star Team
The Memorial Cup All-Star Team is an annual selection of the best players at the Memorial Cup tournament. Six recipients are chosen for each Memorial Cup tournament: one goaltender, two defencemen, and three forwards. Players named to a Memorial C ...
.
DeBrincat finished his OHL career with 167 goals and 332 points in 191 regular season games, and an additional 30 goals and 73 points in 55 postseason games.
Professional
Chicago Blackhawks (2017–2022)
Prior to the start of the season, the Blackhawks traded
Artemi Panarin
Artemi Sergeyevich Panarin (russian: Арте́мий Серге́евич Пана́рин; born 30 October 1991), nicknamed the "Breadman", or simply "Bread", is a Russian professional ice hockey winger and alternate captain for the New York ...
to the
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, ...
, a move that created an opening for DeBrincat on Chicago's opening night roster if he performed well in training camp. He earned preseason praise from coach
Joel Quenneville
Joel Norman Quenneville (born September 15, 1958) is a Canadian–American ice hockey coach and former player in the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Coach Q", he is second in NHL coaching wins at 969 behind Scotty Bowman. Quenneville ac ...
, who said DeBrincat "seems to have a good approach to the game" and "fit in well with his teammates" following a 4–2 victory over the
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
. DeBrincat ultimately made the opening night roster, making his NHL debut on October 4, 2017, and playing on the third offensive line with
Patrick Sharp
Patrick Sharp (born December 27, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars. After his retirement as a pla ...
and
Artem Anisimov
Artem Alekseevich Anisimov (russian: Артём Алексеевич Анисимов; born 24 May 1988) is a Russian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL). Anisimo ...
. He scored his first NHL goal on October 10, beating
Carey Price
Carey Price (born August 16, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is considered to be one of the best goaltenders in the world by many colleagues, fans, ''The ...
of the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...
and helping the Blackhawks to a 3–1 victory. After a slow October in which he had one goal and four assists, DeBrincat, playing on the third line with Sharp and
Ryan Hartman
Ryan Hartman (born September 20, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hartman was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round (30th overall) of the 2013 NHL En ...
, scored 10 goals in November. On November 27, he scored a hat-trick in the Blackhawks' 7–3 rout of the
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. The Ducks compete in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division, and play their home games at Honda Center.
...
. He was the second-youngest player to score a hat-trick in franchise history, four days younger than
Jeremy Roenick
Jeremy Shaffer Roenick
( ; born January 17, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 8th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the Chica ...
had been when he set the record. Promoted to the top line with
Jonathan Toews
Jonathan Bryan Toews ( ; born April 29, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Captain Serious", Toews was selected by the Blackhawks with the t ...
and
Anthony Duclair
Anthony Duclair (born August 26, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Duclair was selected by the New York Rangers in the third round, 80th overall, ...
, DeBrincat broke a seven-game scoring drought on January 26 with his second hat-trick, this time against the Red Wings. He was the youngest player in franchise history to score two hat-tricks and the first rookie to do so since
Steve Larmer
Steven Donald Larmer (born June 16, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He is the brother of Jeff Larmer.
Career
As a youth, Larmer played in the 1974 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hocke ...
during the season. Shortly after another 12-game goal drought, DeBrincat's third hat-trick came on March 18 against the
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the s ...
. It was the first time that any Blackhawk rookie had three hat-tricks in one season and the first time that any United States-born rookie had done so since
Tony Granato
Anthony Lewis Granato (born July 25, 1964) is an American former professional ice hockey left winger and current head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team. He served as head coach of the United States men's national ice hockey tea ...
of the
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home ...
in . Despite receiving less than 15 minutes of ice time per game, DeBrincat finished his rookie season with 28 goals and 52 points, and he became the youngest player to receive the Blackhawks Player of the Year Award at the team's end-of-season banquet. Those 28 goals came in streaks, however: in 82 games, DeBrincat had four droughts of at least seven games where he did not score. Despite DeBrincat's performance, the Blackhawks finished the season with a 33–39–10 record, last in the NHL
Central Division and the franchise's worst since .
DeBrincat started the season on a hot streak, with six points in his first five games. That November, the Blackhawks traded
Nick Schmaltz
Nick Schmaltz (born February 23, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL.
Born in Madison, Wisconsin, and raised ...
to the
Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Coyotes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and currently play at the Mull ...
for
Brendan Perlini
Brendan Perlini (born April 27, 1996) is an English-born Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL). He most recently played for the Bakersfield Condors of the America ...
and DeBrincat's OHL teammate
Dylan Strome
Dylan William Strome (born March 7, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey center for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Ahead of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Strome was considered a top prospect, and was selected third ov ...
, who was immediately placed on DeBrincat's line. Partway through the season, coach
Jeremy Colliton
Jeremy Colliton (born January 13, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently serving as head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL). Colliton is a former head coach of the Chi ...
dropped DeBrincat from the second to the third line as part of his larger vision to have one prominent goal-scorer on three of the four lines. By the
NHL All-Star Game
The National Hockey League All-Star Game (french: Match des Étoiles de la Ligue Nationale de Hockey, links=no) is an exhibition ice hockey game that is traditionally held during the regular season of the National Hockey League (NHL), with many o ...
break at the start of February, DeBrincat had 25 goals and 53 points in 51 games, including seven goals in 10 games in January. On February 18, 2019, DeBrincat had a five-point game, adding two assists to his fourth career hat-trick in the Blackhawks' 8–7 win over the
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...
. His two goals against the
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and are owned by San Jose Sports & Entertainm ...
on March 29 made DeBrincat the second-youngest Blackhawk to reach 40-goals in a season. He was 21 years and 100 days old at the time, 35 days older than Jeremy Roenick when he reached the milestone in 1991. Playing in all 82 games for the second season in a row, DeBrincat surpassed his rookie season with 41 goals and 76 points at the end of the year.
On October 3, 2019, the Blackhawks signed DeBrincat to a three-year, $19.2 million contract extension. He entered the season in a scoring drought, with only five goals through his first 23 games, but contributed as a playmaker, his 13 assists in that span second only to Patrick Kane's 18. DeBrincat snapped his 12-game goalless streak on December 5 when he scored on
Tuukka Rask
Tuukka Mikael Rask (born 10 March 1987) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. Rask was drafted 21st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Boston Bruins in 2006, where he played ...
in the third period of the Blackhawks' 4–3 overtime win against the
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making t ...
. By the time that the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
forced the NHL to suspend operations in March, DeBrincat had 18 goals and 45 points in 70 games, a significant decrease from the previous year. Shortly before the pandemic pause, Colliton told reporters, "He's had the chances, he's had as many opportunities this year, I think the puck hasn't gone in the net as often." He particularly struggled at
even strength Full strength (also called 5-on-5) in ice hockey refers to when both teams have five skaters and one goaltender on the ice. The official term used by the National Hockey League (National Hockey League, NHL) is at ''even strength'' — abbreviated EV ...
: between December 27 and February 10, all four of his goals came on the
power play
Power play or powerplay or their plurals may refer to:
Sports
* Power play (sporting term), a sporting term used in various games
* Powerplay (cricket), a rule concerning fielding restrictions in one-day international cricket
* Power play (cur ...
. DeBrincat made his NHL postseason debut when he joined the Blackhawks in the quarantine bubble for the
2020 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL). The playoffs began on August 1, 2020, and concluded on September 28, 2020, with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning their second Stanley Cup in franchise ...
, and he scored two goals and six points in nine games before the
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. Founded in 2017 as an expan ...
eliminated the Blackhawks in the Western Conference First Round.
The Blackhawks experienced a COVID-19 outbreak early in the season, and DeBrincat was placed in virus protocols on January 26, 2021. He returned on February 2 for the Blackhawks' 4–3 shootout loss to the
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, ...
, and he recorded four goals, two assists, and 17
shots on goal in his first three games back. DeBrincat and Kane were the Blackhawks' top offensive producers at the start of the COVID-shortened season, combining for 3.75 goals per game through the first third of the year. DeBrincat scored his 100th NHL goal on March 6, 2021, with a goal in the Blackhawks' 4–3 shootout win over the
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. They play th ...
. Outside of scoring, DeBrincat showed a significant increase in stealing the puck from opponents, a skill that he began practicing the season prior as a way to contribute during his goal droughts. He finished the season with 32 goals and 56 points in 52 games. That July, DeBrincat was one of 11 players the Blackhawks protected from being taken by the
Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle. The Kraken compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and began play during the league's 2021–22 season. ...
in the
2021 NHL Expansion Draft
The 2021 NHL Expansion Draft was an expansion draft that was conducted by the National Hockey League on July 21, 2021, to fill the roster of the league's expansion team for the 2021–22 NHL season, 2021–22 season, the Seattle Kraken.
Backgrou ...
.
Prior to the season, the Blackhawks announced that DeBrincat would serve as an
alternate captain
In ice hockey, the captain is the player designated by a team as the only person authorized to speak with the game officials regarding rule interpretations when the captain is on the ice. At most levels of play each team must designate one captai ...
for the team's home games, while
Connor Murphy
Connor Murphy (born March 26, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and alternate captain for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League. He was selected 20th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes ...
would serve in that capacity for away games. He continued playing with Kane, scoring nine goals through 16 games, including his first
Gordie Howe hat trick
A Gordie Howe hat trick is a variation on ice hockey's hat-trick. It is accomplished when a player collects a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game. It is named after Hall of Famer Gordie Howe.
The term was coined by a 1950s New York spo ...
in Chicago's game against Seattle on November 18. On January 13, 2022, DeBrincat, who had 23 goals and five multi-goal games at that point in the season, was named to his first NHL All-Star Game as the Blackhawks' representative.
DeBrincat scored his 40th goal of the season on April 21, when the Blackhawks faced
Karel Vejmelka and the
Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Coyotes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and currently play at the Mull ...
. Entering the game on a seven-game scoreless drought, DeBrincat became the eighth player to record multiple 40-goal seasons as a member of the Blackhawks. DeBrincat was the only member of the team to play in all 82 games during the 2021–22 season, and he finished with a career-tying 41 goals, as well as a career-high 37 assists and 78 points. He also showed improvement defensively, leading to a career-high 20:48 minutes of ice time per game. Across five seasons with the Blackhawks, DeBrincat recorded 160 goals and 307 points in 368 regular season games, as well as two goals and six points in nine postseason appearances.
Ottawa Senators (2022–present)
Following their poor finish in the 2021-22 NHL season, the Blackhawks decided to tear down their roster and begin a rebuild in advance of the
2022 NHL Entry Draft
The 2022 NHL Entry Draft was the 60th NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held on July 7–8, 2022, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. Montreal were originally scheduled to host the 2020 draft but were unable to do so due to the COVID-19 pandem ...
. On July 7, 2022, the Blackhawks traded DeBrincat to the
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...
in exchange for the seventh and 39th overall picks in the 2022 draft, as well as a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
International play
DeBrincat made his international tournament debut when he represented the
United States junior team at the
2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 40th Ice Hockey World Junior Championship. It was hosted in Helsinki, Finland. It began on December 26, 2015, and ended with the gold medal game on January 5, 2016. This marked the sixth time ...
in
Helsinki
Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...
. He was ejected on a spearing penalty in the first game of the tournament and missed the next two with a shoulder injury, after which he was relegated to a
bench player
In team sports, substitution (or interchange) is replacing one player with another during a match. Substitute players that are not in the starting lineup (also known as bench players, backups, interchange, or reserves) reside on the bench and ar ...
role for the remainder of the tournament. Team USA took bronze, with DeBrincat scoring one goal in five games. He was expected to make the team again for the
2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 41st edition of the Ice Hockey World Junior Championship (WJC or WM20). The main tournament was co-hosted by the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec and the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario ...
based on his performance that season with the Otters, but he was cut from the team and sent back to Erie during evaluations.
Following the conclusion of his rookie NHL season, DeBrincat was one of four Blackhawks named to the
United States senior team for the
2018 IIHF World Championship
The 2018 IIHF World Championship was an international ice hockey tournament hosted by the Danish cities of Copenhagen and Herning, held from 4–20 May 2018. The IIHF announced the winning bid on 23 May 2014 in Minsk, Belarus. South Korea made i ...
in Denmark. He scored one goal and nine points in ten tournament games, and his team came away with the bronze medal.
DeBrincat appeared for Team USA again at the
2019 IIHF World Championship
The 2019 IIHF World Championship was hosted from 10 to 26 May 2019 by Slovakia. It was the second time that Slovakia has hosted the event as an independent country, as was the case in 2011. The host cities were Bratislava and Košice, as announce ...
in Slovakia, where he contributed seven goals and nine points in eight games for the seventh-place team.
Personal life
DeBrincat's older brother Andrew graduated from Lake Forest Academy in 2012.
After four years at
American International College
American International College (AIC) is a private college in Springfield, Massachusetts.
History
American International College was originally established on July 18, 1885, as the French Protestant College by Rev. Calvin E. Amaron, who sough ...
, Andrew began playing professional ice hockey in 2019, and has appeared in the
ECHL
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The E ...
for the
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Originally established in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at Heritage Bank Cen ...
and
Kalamazoo Wings
The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Western Conference, Central Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Event Center. They are the affiliate ...
. DeBrincat and his brother are of
Maltese
Maltese may refer to:
* Someone or something of, from, or related to Malta
* Maltese alphabet
* Maltese cuisine
* Maltese culture
* Maltese language, the Semitic language spoken by Maltese people
* Maltese people, people from Malta or of Malte ...
descent on their father's side.
DeBrincat married his wife, Lyndsey Bice, in July 2021. Their first child, Archie David DeBrincat, was born on May 18, 2022.
In 2020, DeBrincat was the Blackhawks' representative in the NHL Player Gaming Challenge, which featured one player from every NHL franchise. The charity video game tournament was held to raise money for the
CDC Foundation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health agency of the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgi ...
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
Awards and honors
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:DeBrincat, Alex
1997 births
Living people
American men's ice hockey right wingers
Chicago Blackhawks draft picks
Chicago Blackhawks players
Ottawa Senators players
Erie Otters players
Ice hockey players from Michigan
People from Farmington Hills, Michigan
American people of Canadian descent
American people of Maltese descent