The Detroit Red Wings have a contract problem bubbling beneath the surface, and it’s not Simon Edvinsson.
The Detroit Red Wings entered the 2026 offseason with several major questions, but Alex DeBrincat’s contract situation may be one of the most important issues quietly developing behind the scenes.
While Dylan Larkin’s trade request and Detroit’s search for a new general manager have dominated the headlines, DeBrincat is also approaching a significant career decision. The 28-year-old winger is entering the final season of his four-year, $31.5 million contract, which carries a $7.875 million annual cap hit. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
The biggest development is that DeBrincat has made it clear he wants to remain in Detroit.
Speaking at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour in Las Vegas, DeBrincat said his intention is to stay with the Red Wings. He indicated that contract discussions are expected to resume once Detroit hires its next general manager.
That puts the Red Wings in an unusual position. They have a productive player who wants to stay, but the organization currently doesn’t have the general manager who would normally handle the negotiation.
DeBrincat is coming off his strongest season in Detroit. He led the Red Wings with 41 goals and 85 points during the 2025-26 campaign, establishing himself as one of the team’s most important offensive players. Over three seasons with Detroit, he has scored 107 goals, 10 more than Larkin during that span.
His production makes the upcoming negotiation particularly important.
Detroit acquired DeBrincat with the expectation that he would provide consistent scoring, and he has largely delivered on that promise. Now the organization must determine how much it is willing to invest in keeping that production long term.
The timing is complicated by the uncertainty surrounding the franchise.
Steve Yzerman is no longer running the hockey department, Larkin has requested a trade, Patrick Kane has returned to Chicago, and Detroit is preparing for a new leadership structure. The Red Wings have also been dealing with Simon Edvinsson’s contract situation.
That means the eventual GM will inherit several major decisions almost immediately.
DeBrincat’s situation could become one of the first major tests for that new executive. The player has already indicated that he wants to stay, which removes one potential obstacle. The question will be whether the new management group believes committing significant money and term to a 28-year-old goal scorer fits the organization’s long-term direction.
There is also a timing element. DeBrincat can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season, giving Detroit a limited window to reach an agreement before he potentially reaches the open market.
For the Red Wings, losing DeBrincat would create another major hole in an offense already facing uncertainty. Keeping him, meanwhile, would give the next GM an established scoring threat around whom part of the attack can continue to be built.
For now, however, everything is essentially on hold.
DeBrincat’s message is clear: he wants to remain a Red Wing. The organization appears to have an interested player, but until a new GM is appointed, there is nobody in place to turn that mutual interest into a long-term agreement.
With training camp approaching, the next Red Wings GM could have several enormous decisions waiting on the desk—and DeBrincat’s future should be near the top of that list.
