Chicago Blackhawks: Alex DeBrincat has struggled and that is okay

One of the Chicago Blackhawks players has struggled this season when you compare his play to the following few seasons, that player is Alex DeBrincat.

Alex DeBrincat was never an NHL guarantee. Drafted in the second round by the Blackhawks, DeBrincat quickly became the Blackhawks’ best prospect, and over time one of their leading scorers. DeBrincat broke into the league now three years ago, and since then he has become one of the league’s best scorers especially after putting up 41 goals last season.

The 22-year-old goal scorer had such a good resume the first few seasons that the Blackhawks had to give him 6.4 million for the next three years just to stick around with the team. He seemed worth that money going into this season but has struggled as of late.

In 57 games this season DeBrincat has 37 points. The goal scorer that used to lead the team in goals now only has 13, and his power-play goals are down by 8 goals from last season. I know that you can not have your best players score every night, and that is ok. DeBrincat is not even the Blackhawks’ best player he is our second tier goal scorer behind Patrick Kane, and he is making the team rely on Kane way too much.

If the Chicago Blackhawks are to make the playoffs they are going to need DeBrincat to turn things on. Both DeBrincat and his linemate and friend Dylan Strome have struggled this season, and that blame is not all on themselves.

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Jeremy Colliton questionably chose to separate Strome and DeBrincat this season after the two created such great chemistry last season. He has been playing the two young forwards together this season, and that needs to continue if the Blackhawks are going to reignite Strome and DeBrincat.

While I do not like seeing DeBrincat struggle I do believe we will be ok at the end of the day. DeBrincat is only 22 years of age, and he has already put up so many great numbers through his NHL career. DeBrincat is only going to get better as the years go on. Next season will show a DeBrincat hungry for more goals after struggle this season.

Rather than seeing a depleted and down Alex DeBrincat we will see a hungry one next season. I know that I am speaking down the line and that we still have a lot of hockey to go this year, but I just wanted to share my own take on all the people complaining about how bad Alex DeBrincat has been. He has not been great, but he has not been getting any puck luck as well.

It is only a matter of time before Alex DeBrincat finds the back of the net again, and who knows maybe he can find it more frequently during the Blackhawks next 20 games!