Alex DeBrincat on the real reason he left the Ottawa Senators.
Alex DeBrincat is speaking out ahead of his first return to Ottawa after a controversial summer.
It was a controversial summer for Detroit Red Wings star forward Alex DeBrincat, one in which many believe he forced a trade out of Ottawa and to his hometown team, the aforementioned Red Wings, and on Saturday afternoon DeBrincat will return to Ottawa for the first time since that controversy.
Just 4 games into the regular season however you would be hard pressed to argue with DeBrinat's decision, the forward has 5 goals and 3 assists for a total of 8 points and is setting a pace of 2 points per game thus far, and his newfound success may very well be a byproduct of the real reason he left the Ottawa Senators.
This week, DeBrincat revealed just how important a move closer to his family has been, a move that you cannot put a dollar amount on and a move that he feels many would also choose if they could do so.
“I had to do what was best for my family,” DeBrincat said as per The Athletic. “And I think a lot of people in the same situation would have done the same thing.”
DeBrincat's family life is likely in the best place it has been since he joined the ranks of the National Hockey League and you have to wonder how much of a role that is playing in his current run of success.
“Archie is growing up with his grandparents around. That’s a luxury that most NHL players don’t get,” DeBrincat said. “I do think that’s something that’s overlooked. We have lives outside of hockey. It’s been so good for me and my wife.”
Home games now even come with his own personal cheerleading section.
“My parents come to every single one of my games now," he added "It’s so great.”
In spite of his reasons for leaving there will likely be a contingent of fans in Ottawa who won't be so quick to forgive DeBrincat for forcing his way out of Ottawa, and the boo birds are expected to be out in force for his first return to the city in a new uniform.
The hostility that is expected on Saturday may be a first for the Red Wings forward, and it will be interesting to see how he responds.
“I have never been booed before,” DeBrincat said.
