Red Wings’ Alex DeBrincat completes feat not seen in Detroit since 2009

The Detroit Red Wings are fighting for their playoff lives with four games remaining in the season. If Detroit ends up making the playoffs, winger Alex DeBrincat will be a big reason why. The Michigan native has been a star since joining his hometown Red Wings. And on Thursday night, he showed exactly why he was brought in a few years ago.

DeBrincat scored a goal on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. His goal gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead in a very important contest for them. Additionally, this goal gave DeBrincat his 40th goal of the season. This is the third time he has scored 40+ goals in a single season.

CAT HAS 40! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/wgPiCMxCtY

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 9, 2026

This goal is also notable for Detroit, beyond the clear value a 40-goal scorer brings. DeBrincat is now the first 40-goal scorer for the Winged Wheel since 2009, as noted by The Athletic’s Max Bultman. The last 40+ goal scorer in team history was Marian Hossa, who scored 40 goals during his only season playing for Detroit.

DeBrincat is also the fourth Wings skater to reach this mark in the last 20 years, as noted by the team on social media. He joins Hossa, former captain Henrik Zetterberg, and Brendan Shanahan.

The former second-round pick debuted with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017-18 as a 20-year-old. He recorded his first 40+ goal season in his sophomore NHL campaign, scoring 41 in 2018-19. In 2021-22, he recorded his second 40+ goal campaign.

That year would prove to be his final season in Chicago. The Blackhawks traded DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators at the 2022 NHL Draft. He spent one season in Ottawa before being traded to the Red Wings in July 2023.

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