Chicago Blackhawks Prospect Alex DeBrincat Wins OHL Player Of Year

If the latest OHL season is any indication, the Chicago Blackhawks have found a diamond in the rough with Alex DeBrincat

After the 2015-16 season, the Chicago Blackhawks saw Patrick Kane win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player, while Artemi Panarin was given the Calder Trophy for the league’s leading rookie.

The big-league Blackhawks won’t be winning any awards this offseason (unless Marian Hossa wins the Bill Masterton Trophy, but that’s probably going to Ottawa’s Craig Anderson). However, the Blackhawks have a postseason award to be excited about in a different league.

Alex DeBrincat, a forward who was drafted in 2016’s second round, received the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player of the Year award on Friday. This came after DeBrincat potted a ridiculous 127 points this regular season, including a league-leading 65 goals.

He’s added another 22 points in 18 playoff games with the Erie Otters, who hold a 1-0 championship series lead over Mississauga. But those results aren’t added to the award configurations — though if they were, DeBrincat would still be winning this thing.

Chicago Blackhawks

DeBrincat has produced a stellar career in the OHL, collecting seasons of 104, 101 and 127 points, not including another 66 points in three postseasons. He’s managed to make himself among the top players in a league that has included Connor McDavid and Mitch Marner, guys tearing up the league with the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, respectively.

DeBrincat’s role in the 2017-18 season

The Blackhawks struggled to get consistent scoring from their bottom six throughout the 2016-17 season, and things got even worse in the playoffs. That’s when even the top-line guys couldn’t find the back of the net.

While there’s still a prospect camp and a training camp for the Blackhawks to go through this offseason, it’d be hard not to think DeBrincat could end up playing in the Indian Head on opening night.

While slight of size (5-foot-7, 170 pounds), DeBrincat has shown an intriguing amount of talent that’s hard to ignore. The Blackhawks’ offense has suffered from being very one-dimensional at times the past two seasons, and a guy who has put up more than 100 points per season each of the last three years (albeit in a different league) has to be considered for a roster spot.

DeBrincat could line up alongside Jonathan Toews on the top line to give his offense a push. He could also team up with the likes of Nick Schmaltz or Ryan Hartman, or he could even play alongside Kane and Artem Anisimov if the Blackhawks could like to spread out their second line moving forward.

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Really, the only downside to having DeBrincat in the lineup next season would be based entirely on his lack of NHL experience. But the Blackhawks dealt with that plenty this regular season — it’s just a fact of life in the game. You have to get guys experience somehow, and the sooner might be the better for someone as talented as DeBrincat.