Alex DeBrincat and Red Wings Closing In on Massive $91 Million Extension

The Detroit Red Wings just dropped a brutal 5-4 overtime game to the New Jersey Devils, but the real action happened in the front office. According to Elliotte Friedman, Detroit and star winger Alex DeBrincat are closing in on a massive seven-year extension worth around $13 million annually.

That is the kind of money that makes an early-season losing streak sting a whole lot less. While the fanbase is sweating a rough start to the year, DeBrincat’s agent is out here securing a bag so heavy it needs its own zip code.

"Elliotte Friedman reported that the team and DeBrincat are closing in on the extension, noting they 'needed some good news and are about to get it.'"

For context, $13 million a year puts DeBrincat in the absolute upper stratosphere of NHL earners. You do not hand out a $91 million total package unless you believe a guy is the foundational piece of your offense for the rest of the decade.

Detroit desperately needed some good news. The on-ice product has been a tough watch lately, with the Red Wings dropping recent games to Seattle and Montreal before the overtime heartbreaker against New Jersey.

Locking up your top goal-scoring threat is a clear signal from the front office that the rebuild phase is supposed to be over, even if the current standings suggest otherwise. You pay the premium now to avoid the headache of a contract year distraction hanging over the locker room.

From a market perspective, this cements Detroit's cap structure for the foreseeable future. Bettors looking at the Red Wings' long-term futures now know exactly who is driving the bus, for better or worse, as they try to claw their way back into relevance.

The ink is not dry yet, but the timing is perfect. Detroit hosts the Philadelphia Flyers next, giving DeBrincat a chance to celebrate his new tax bracket by actually putting one in the win column.