Alex DeBrincat

The move from Ottawa to Detroit and the opportunity to reunite with Patrick Kane didn't end up changing much for DeBrincat. After providing 27 goals and 66 points across 82 contests with Ottawa in 2022-23, the 26-year-old DeBrincat had 27 goals and 67 points in 82 outings last season as a member of the Red Wings. Armed with a four-year, $31.5 million contract that runs through 2026-27, DeBrincat will get the opportunity to play with the same squad in consecutive seasons for the first time since his tenure with Chicago from 2017-18 through 2021-22. That stability should do him some good. The fact that Kane decided to stick around doesn't hurt either as it almost guarantees DeBrincat will spend nearly all his even-strength ice time alongside at least one of Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond or Kane -- all high-end forwards for him to work with. Fantasy managers should regard 25 goals and 65 points as a minimum expectation from DeBrincat and draft him above other players in that range because he has the potential to record around 40 goals and 80 points when he's at his best.

DeBrincat provided 27 goals and 66 points in 82 games with Ottawa last season. He also racked up 263 shots on net and 109 hits during his only year as a member of the Senators. DeBrincat was traded to Detroit in the offseason, and promptly signed a four-year, $31.5 million contract with his new team. The 25-year-old winger has two 40-goal seasons under his belt as well as two 75-plus point performances. The pairing of DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin has plenty of offensive potential and it should be mutually beneficial. It could help DeBrincat get back over the 30-goal plateau and 70-point mark in 2023-24.

Fully committed in their quest to ice the worst team possible, the Blackhawks traded DeBrincat - who scored 41 goals a season ago as a 24-year-old - to Ottawa this past summer. Chicago wasn't exactly a top-flight club a year ago, but that didn't stop DeBrincat from posting career-best marks in both shots on goal (270) and power-play points (28). It's clear the Senators are a better team than the Blackhawks at this point, so while not being able to play alongside Patrick Kane might hurt DeBrincat's numbers some, the fact he is joining the likes of Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, and the newly acquired Claude Giroux should result in "The Cat" once again being a high-end fantasy producer this coming year.

Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid. Those were the only two players in the entire NHL to score more goals than DeBrincat's 32 last season. The 23-year-old DeBrincat displayed uncanny chemistry with linemate Patrick Kane, filling up the net at what would have been a 50-goal pace over a normal 82-game season, thanks in large part to a career-high 20.6 shooting percentage. DeBrincat accounted for just over 20 percent of Chicago's goals while leading the club in power-play (nine) and game-winning (seven) tallies. With the additions of free-agent forward Tyler Johnson and trade acquisition Seth Jones, as well as the potential return to health of captain Jonathan Toews, DeBrincat should have a deeper supporting cast around him 2021-22. A 40-goal campaign, with a run at 50, is entirely in the range of outcomes this season.

DeBrincat struggled mightily during his third season in 2019-20, mustering just 18 goals in 70 games after scoring 41 during the 2018-19 campaign. His eight even-strength goals ranked outside the top 200, and his 8.7 shooting percentage ranked 149th out of 156 forwards who scored at least 15 goals. It feels like a blip on the radar considering how well DeBrincat's career started, and his team-leading 10 power-play goals suggest his struggles can be at least partially attributed to a spell of bad luck, rather than a lack of talent. A strong bounce-back season in 2020-21 is likely for such a gifted finisher, but he needs a strong playmaking center to feed him the puck, meaning his offensive production will depend on who he gets to play with. Only 17 players scored more than 30 goals last season; if all goes well for DeBrincat, he could find himself back in their company once again during the upcoming campaign. He'll be a great value pick should he drop to the lower rounds due to his tremendous goal-scoring upside.

DeBrincat has quickly established himself as one of the NHL's most lethal goal scorers. During his sophomore campaign in 2018-19, the 5-foot-7 American established a new career high with 41 scores in 82 games, which left him in a tie with six other players for sixth most in the NHL at the conclusion of the campaign. The 2016 second-round pick wasn't just a one-trick pony, either, racking up 35 helpers en route to a total of 76 points on the season - narrowly missing the point-per-game mark. There's no reason to believe that DeBrincat will take a step back in 2019-20, and although it'd be unwise for fantasy owners to draft him with the expectation that he'll eclipse the 40-goal threshold for a second straight campaign, it would hardly be surprising to see him eclipse 80 points for the first time in his career while firing 220-plus shots on net. DeBrincat is a rising star in the NHL, and should remain an elite fantasy option for years to come.

DeBrincat was one of the lone bright spots for the Blackhawks in 2017-18, as he was able to lead the team in goals (28) as a rookie while totaling 52 points in 82 contests. The 20-year-old winger's diminutive frame clearly wasn't an issue, and it's safe to assume he'll only continue to improve during his sophomore season in 2018-19. The 2016 second-round (39th overall) pick will likely spend most of his time skating with Patrick Kane and Nick Schmaltz on Chicago's second line at full strength while also logging significant time on the man advantage as a member of the top power-pay unit. DeBrincat could easily top the 30-goal and 60-point marks this season, making him a desirable asset in all fantasy formats.

DeBrincat has put up absurd numbers in major junior over the past three seasons, racking up 332 points (167 goals, 165 assists) in 191 games. Many attributed his high level of production during his rookie season in the OHL -- 104 points in 68 games -- to his elite linemate Connor McDavid, but he answered those critics by racking up 228 points over his next two seasons with the Erie Otters. The 2016 second-round pick is only 5-foot-7, so it was believed he would likely spend the majority of the 2017-18 campaign growing accustomed to the physical rigors of the AHL before making the jump to the big club, but he's spent most of Chicago's training camp skating with Patrick Kane and Nick Schmaltz on the club's second line, indicating he'll likely start this season in a top-six role with the Blackhawks. If that comes to fruition, DeBrincat will suddenly become a highly intriguing option in redraft leagues, and a must-own player in dynasty formats. The pint-sized American could be in for a highly productive rookie campaign.