Red Wings need more consistency from Alex DeBrincat

The Detroit Red Wings barely missed the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. 

Despite having the same number of points as the Washington Capitals, the Red Wings were shut out of the postseason because of a tie-breaker.

That reality sits heaviest on the shoulders of right wing Alex DeBrincat.

He scored 27 goals in his first season with the team he grew up rooting for in the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills. Generally, 27 goals is an acceptable total of goals in a National Hockey League season. But DeBrincat had averaged 31 goals per year over his first six campaigns, twice scoring 41. And he appeared to be on track to reach a career high in 2023-24, with 13 goals in his first 23 games.

But that's when things changed. 

DeBrincat began going long stretches without finding the back of the net. He endured stretches of 12, 10 and - on two occasions - seven games without a goal. And from Feb. 29 through April 11, when Detroit went through the slump that ultimately cost it the playoffs, DeBrincat only managed one goal in 20 games.

"Same way as a team, a lot of ups and downs," DeBrincat said via Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now. "I would have loved to have been more consistent."

He continued to have chances. But too many shots - particularly his one-timer from his favorite spot, the left-wing circle - were either stopped, hit a goal post/crossbar or missed the net.

"Even though some of those stretches where he wasn't scoring, he had chances," said Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde. "I was not concerned."

But DeBrincat knows he has to capitalize on more of those opportunities in 2024-25. That's his goal.

"I'm hoping to just get better next year," he said.  "And be more consistent."