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Blackhawks: Alex DeBrincat can bounce back in 2020-21

By Vincent Parise

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 15: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights makes the second period save on Alex DeBrincat #12 of the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 15, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 15: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights makes the second period save on Alex DeBrincat #12 of the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 15, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) /
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Alex DeBrincat is the Chicago Blackhawks’ biggest bounce-back candidate.

The Chicago Blackhawks clearly believe in Alex DeBrincat. After two really great seasons to open up his NHL career, they gave him a lot of money over a long period of time with his second contract. The 6.4 million dollars a year for the next three years shows a lot of commitment to him. The contract is very fair for DeBrincat and the Hawks as he had 41 goals and 35 assists for 76 points in his second season. Those 41 goals don’t grow on trees as only a handful of NHL players reach that number in any given year.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, he wasn’t as prolific in 2020-21. He took a step back as he only scored 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points. That isn’t an awful total as he probably would have eclipsed 20 goals if it weren’t for COVID-19 but it is only half of the total from a year ago. You know how good you are if you are wildly disappointed with a 20 goal season.

When the NHL had it’s “Return to Play” Stanley Cup Playoffs after the COVID-19 pause, DeBrincat was pretty good again. He had two goals and four assists for six points in the nine games that Chicago played in. Those are not bad for playoff hockey, and his first taste of playoff hockey at that. It should leave him feeling good about his game going into next season.

We don’t know exactly when the NHL will be back but we can assume with a fair amount of confidence that it will be sometime in January. When they do come back, the Hawks need DeBrincat to be back on his game. He is a big key to the future of this organization.

The Hawks probably aren’t going to be very good. They don’t have Corey Crawford or Robin Lehner to make them look like a good team either but the offense might be exciting at least. They announced to the world that things might start to change as they start to rebuild their roster. Surely, Alex DeBrincat will be a big part of that.

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He is not even 23 yet and has 45 goal potential in the NHL. He reached 41 in his second season and 28 in his rookie season. A down year in 2019-20 hasn’t changed that potential. This is a player that is going to have a bounce-back year when they return. It is clear that he has the talent, he just needs to put it all together. He should come into this season refreshed and motivated. Alex DeBrincat, as a 22-year-old, is an exciting player to have in your organization.

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