On Monday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman spoke on the final episode of his podcast for the season, 32 Thoughts, where he covered every NHL team with reports and went on a lengthy discussion about the Red Wings. 

He touched on Dylan Larkin's future, whether Patrick Kane will return or leave, and finally what the market looks like for star winger Alex DeBrincat. It wasn't anticipated that the Red Wings would deal the 28-year-old Farmington Hills, Michigan native, but more reports suggest the Red Wings may need to consider moving on from the elite goal scorer if they can't get him signed to an extension.

Friedman noted on the podcast that DeBrincat is entering a contract year and is already coming off a career-best 41-goal, 85-point campaign, and that another stellar season next year could put him in a difficult range when it comes to negotiating his next contract. 

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The Red Wings will technically have plenty of cap room to sign DeBrincat, but Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman is known to be conservative when it comes to handing out big-money, long-term deals, and that history could ultimately force Detroit's hand into moving its elite winger out of town rather than paying market value to keep him.

"I just don't know how comfortable Yzerman is gonna be paying him what he could be making on the open market," Friedman said of the DeBrincat situation. 

Friedman added that it's tough to tell which direction Yzerman wants to take the franchise, describing the Red Wings as being at a genuine crossroads, with the roster capable of going either way, toward finally becoming a playoff contender or toward continuing the rebuild that has already stretched on for the better part of a decade.

Reports have indicated teams like the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres have been among those checking in on DeBrincat's availability, given the very real risk Detroit could lose him for nothing if an extension doesn't get done before he reaches unrestricted free agency. 

With Larkin's situation still unresolved and DeBrincat now firmly part of the conversation, the Red Wings are staring down a pivotal summer that could go a long way toward deciding what kind of team they're building heading into next season.

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