What happened: Alex DeBrincat spoke at the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas, addressing Dylan Larkin's trade request and Patrick Kane's departure from Detroit. DeBrincat said Larkin's request "sucks" but doesn't change how the team views him, adding the Red Wings are "happy to see him at the rink." He also called Kane's move to the Chicago Blackhawks difficult personally but said he's glad his longtime friend landed back in his hometown.
Why it matters: The comments come as Detroit heads into training camp without a general manager after Steve Yzerman stepped down in mid-July, compounding the uncertainty that has shadowed the roster since Larkin's request became public in June. Kane's exit removes a leadership voice DeBrincat says was as valuable off the ice as on it, leaving the Red Wings to navigate camp with both their captain's future and front-office vacancy unresolved.
By the numbers: DeBrincat scored 40 goals last season, the first Red Wings player to reach that mark since Marian Hossa in 2008-09. His current deal pays just under $8 million annually. Kane, whom Detroit signed as a free agent in December 2023, returns to Chicago on a two-year, $18 million contract with the team that drafted him first overall in 2007.
What to watch: Detroit opens training camp within days, still searching for a new general manager while Larkin's trade situation remains unresolved.