Blackhawks Sign Alex DeBrincat
On Monday morning the Chicago Blackhawks announced they have signed forward Alexander DeBrincat to a three-year entry-level contract.
DeBrincat, who will turn 19 in mid-December, currently leads the OHL with 17 goals in only 14 games (he also has 18 assists) for the Erie Otters.
Extremely excited to sign my first NHL contract with @NHLBlackhawks pic.twitter.com/1bBkDjkFyD
— Alex DeBrincat (@Brinksy97) November 7, 2016
Great news will really compliment this lineup when the his time comes.
Tab does this accelerate his arrival or is this just SB and crew locking up a kid in their long term plans?
He would eligible for call up after erie otters season over currently they are in 1st in their division so it would not be until playoffs began at least and could be late may if erie goes to memorial cup and if he plays 10 games one year of his elc is lost. So he probably won’t play before next year
I would the ELC slide rule would apply to him so the Hawks would have him on his ELC for 3 years after this season (if he doesn’t play 10 games for the Hawks this season, which is unlikely).
If nothing else this shows the Hawks think his size won’t necessarily hold him back from playing pro hockey and possibly at the highest level.
After putting up 50 goal seasons the past two years, some wrote it off to playing with McDavid 2 years ago and Dylan Strome last season, but he is again putting up gaudy numbers in the OHL, albeit it with another teammate (Taylor Raddysh) who is lighting it up as well. Is DeBrincat a beneficiary of playing with very good players? Yes, but doing it for the 3rd time in 3 seasons with different guys – some of the credit must rightfully belong to him.
IS there a situation… where he might be eligible for playoffs? ?
Also, i see he has been taking some face offs… winning about 57% or so right now.
Looks like he needs a bigger challenge than the OHL at this point.
Have tickets for two of his games but he might be away for one at the Junior tournament-he’s fun to watch and I agree with Hawks1961-same as Marner–another small, skilled player.
DeBrincat is 59.7 percent at the dot this season.
“same as Marner – another small, skilled player” – what “Marner” are you talking about? 6-0 Mitch Marner?
Heights and weights on team rosters and hockey websites aren’t always real accurate, but HockeyDB has DeBrincat at 5’7″ and 170lbs. Johnny Hockey listed at 5’9″ and 157lbs. DeBrincat is also 4 years younger than Gaudreau and at 18 years old could conceivably get a little taller.
Martin St. Louis is the guy always used for comparison of a small guy having success in the NHL – he is 5’8″ and 176lbs. DeBrincat has more of a fireplug body like St. Louis than a skinny kid type body like Gaudreau.
Hopefully DeBrincat will be mentioned in the future with guys like St. Louis and Gaudreau for more than just being small.
ER – Gaudreau I totally get. St. Louis I totally get. Mitch Marner made me laugh out loud.
Size is NOT everything in the NHL. Hawks fans don’t have to look much further than 88 or 72 for good examples. Heck, Tyler Motte’s 5-9 and 190.
DeBrincat has plenty of time to finish puberty and physically fill out before they run him into an NHL game.
Tab-Marner is very slight-with just recent muscle, but not much-small can be height, weight or both-
Many people wondered about Marner’s ability to play with bigger men, people with better cred than you or I.
Cat is about 5 pounds lighter, but thicker
Listed as right winger you would think transitioning in to anisimovs line on that spot would fit the timelines for his arrival could be interesting
DiCaprio look-a-like. Aside from that, this kid is a pure scorer, you can’t teach God given ability like he has. 1961 is correct, he is playing w/ babies right now.
This may turn out to be Bowman’s best draft pick to date; it won’t happen overnight, but he will be a consistent 30 goal scorer in the NHL. I could care less how tall he is or isnt. Look at Bollig, Mashinter and their type — give me a break re his height. This kid has it.
Debrincat probably won’t make the team next year. So it really doesn’t do anything for his timeline. But it does let him get some AHL time if his Erie season ends early.
Debrincat I believe is eligible to jump to the AHL next year because he will turn 20 prior to December 31. It looks like Hartmans contract slid twice. Both players turn 20 between Sept 15 and Dec31. He signed his contract within 2 weeks of the time Debrincat signed. (Not sure if that means anything or not, but interesting) First year slid due to juniors. According to cap friendly his first year in Rockford also slid. According to cap friendly signing bonuses are paid out even if the contract slides. So that helps keep the cap hit down. They’re reporting his elc is 809k.
I’m interested to see how he does at Juniors. Last year he was less than stellar. So he hasn’t quite shown he can elevate his game to the next level.
Signing the kid was just the cherry on the ice cream …for him its really a boost for is confidence and for his pride i think …not that he really needs it but its a relief for his future and a good move by the Hawks ….i would not be surprised to see him get over 70 goals this season with Erie..the kid love the game ,the kid love to win ,the kid stays focus and is playing with passion..what else do you want from a player ?
Its a good thing for him to play and maybe win memorial cup ….he will grow faster in Ohl and their is no rush to get him at the next level …Hawks did a good job sending him back ……
Love my Hawks
Still beleive Motte will be the top rookie with the Hawks this season .
Ernie, DeBrincat had back to back 50 goal / 100 point seasons – I don’t understand why you would say “Last year he was less than stellar.” I haven’t seen him play so I don;t have first hand knowledge of his game – but back to back 50/100 seasons seems better than “less than stellar”.
Ernie i think the difference with hartman was he turned 19 on his signing year not 20
I’ve seen Alex play quite a bit. Even during the warm ups, he really seems to be enjoying what he’s doing. He gets his team fired up with his competitive and fun nature. Then when the game starts, he’s all business. He just knows where to go.
Raddysh benefits from Alex especially on the power play!
Just too clarify since hartman was only 18 on sept. 15 on signing year he was eligible for 2 slide years
Hartman and Debrincat both turned or will turn 19 during there signing year.
When I said less than stellar I was referencing last year’s world juniors. He was suspended heading into them but he had 1 goal and no assists in 5 games. From what I remember he never found his groove.
Debrincat was also 18 on september 15. He turns 19 december 18th. Hartman turned 19 a week after the September 15th deadline.
I’m trying to get clarification on if it slides twice and why Hartman’s did, According to Capfriendly’s explanation it shouldnt have as Hartman turned 20 his first year in Rockford before the December 31st date but after the september 15th date… Just like Debrincat.
It is interesting he’s playing more center.
Saw a report yesterday said he was 19 shoulda checked so debrincat should be eligible to slide 2 yrs. being 18 on sept. 15th this year if that even comes in to play. Is he playing center alot was wondering that when the faceoff numbers brought up
This is where I’m confused… Capfriendly’s explanation.
“An exception to this rule is that if the player is 19 on September 15 of the first year of their contract, and turns 20 between September 16 and December 31, their contract does not slide.”
Not sure what the reasoning is ernie but it appears if he was signed in new year a slide year wouldve been lost so maybe thats the reason for signing now he gets the 2nd one
And is AHL eligible…
Yeah thats the part of the rule i don t get the reasoning if they signed him after dec. 31st he would be still ahl eligible but would not be eligible to slide another year
I wonder if this year isn’t technically seen as a slide because he was never able to play because his junior season started?
I don’t know. Still hoping to get clarification on it.
Yes- I agree Ernie, D-Cat was invisible in WC-U20’s… which to me is better measuring stick Versus CHL stats…
On the bright side- he has one more year to play/shine at WC-U20…
Schmaltz looked pretty meh- 1st year… and Much better 2nd year…
I really liked Hayden’s game when he played WC-U20’s
Yes should be 2016 17 and 2017 18 be slides
But if signed after jan. 1st be just the rest of this year slides
Some clarification from the wonderful folks at cap friendly.
“The contract slides based Entry Level Signing Age (which we capture at the top of each player page) & not the actual age.
What that means is that even though Debrincat is eligible to play in the AHL next season, his contract is still slide eligible… just lie Hartman”
Thanks ernie but as i said if he signed aftet dec. 31st he wouldn t slide next year because of exception rule which i don t get the logic of that
Yeah…I don’t get it either. He’s AHL eligible next year and it will slide provided he doesnt play in 10 games