‘It’s something you dream about as a kid’: DeBrincat to represent Red Wings at 2024 NHL All-Star Game

Alex DeBrincat’s first season with his hometown Detroit Red Wings became even more memorable on Thursday, when the 26-year-old forward was named to the initial 32-man roster for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, which will be held at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Saturday, Feb. 3. 

“It’s very exciting,” said DeBrincat, a Farmington Hills, Mich., native. “I think obviously it’s something you dream about as a kid. It’s just a fun event to be part of. I feel like it’s definitely cool to be the Red Wings’ representative.”

Pacing the Red Wings in goals (17) and points (38) and tied for the team lead in assists (21) through 40 games this season, DeBrincat is a deserving choice to represent Detroit at next month’s star-studded event, according to head coach Derek Lalonde.

“If you could have drawn it up exactly, that would be the way,” Lalonde said about DeBrincat’s impact this season. “The offense, the production and go-to guy in a lot of situations. A very, very valuable player for us. Well deserved.”

This will mark DeBrincat’s second career All-Star appearance, after he represented the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2022 All-Star Game in Las Vegas.

“I think he’s a complete player,” Jake Walman said about DeBrincat. “He’s done really well for us and hopefully we can keep it going. There’s a lot of guys who are deserving of honors like that.”

Signing a four-year contract with Detroit after being traded from the Ottawa Senators this offseason, DeBrincat is set to become the fifth Red Wings player in the past 30 years to represent the club in an All-Star Game during his first campaign with the franchise. He will join Brendan Shanahan (1996-97), Dominik Hasek (2001-02), current captain Dylan Larkin (2015-16) and Frans Nielsen (2016-17).

DeBrincat, who received the NHL’s First Star of the Week for the week ending Sunday, Oct. 22, said he doesn’t judge his success solely on points.

“I started off pretty good then went cold for a bit. Just trying to find a little bit more consistency in my game,” DeBrincat said about his season. “But I feel like when I’m not scoring or getting points, I’m still trying to give the team a better chance to win by doing other things.”

As the Red Wings progress through the 2024 calendar year, DeBrincat said the camaraderie in Detroit’s dressing room will only continue to grow.

“I think we have a great group of guys,” DeBrincat said. “I think we’ve gone through some ups and downs, but it’s only going to make us better in the long run. I’ve had a fun year with these guys.”

Fans can help send more Red Wings players to the 2024 NHL All-Star Game by participating in the NHL All-Star Fan Vote, which is still open at NHL.com/Vote, via X (formerly Twitter) and the NHL App. Voting closes on Thursday, Jan. 11.