Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings DeBrincat Has New Team, New Contract And New Agent

DeBrincat now represented by father of former Detroit player

Published

9 months ago

August 5, 2023

Bob Duff

Circumstances recently were forcing Red Wings forward Alex DeBfrincat to change agents.

It’s been a busy summer for Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat. He’s been traded to his hometown team by the Ottawa Senators. Next, he immediately was signing a long-term deal with the Wings.

Now, he’s been required to get himself a new agent.

That’s not how it usally works. Generally, if a player is opting to change representation, it comes prior to a contract negotatiton. That’s what Detroit captain Dylan Larkin did last summer, switching from Kurt Overhardt to Pat Brisson.

In DeBrincat’s case, completely different circumstances led to his change in representation. Late last week, his previous agent, Jeff Jackson, was accepting a position as CEO of hockey ops for the Edmonton. That’s the team with former Red Wings GM Ken Holland running the show.

Vladimir Tarasenko (@Senators), Alex DeBrincat (@DetroitRedWings) and Reilly Smith (@penguins) will all be starting 2023-24 on a new team in the Eastern Conference. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/ykQESFGvPU

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) August 3, 2023

Oddly enough, DeBrincat’s new agent also holds a connection to a recent Detroit player. The high-scoring forward in now represented by Dave Gagner.

DeBrincat Agent Father Of Former Red Wings Player

A longtime NHL forward himself, Dave is the father of forward Sam Gagner. Sam was a popular Detroit player from 2020-22. He skated last season with the Winnipeg Jets and is currently an unrestricted free agent. Oddly enough, Gagner isn’t represented by his father. His agent is Judd Moldaver, who like Dave Gagner, is with Wasserman Hockey.

That doesn’t mean that Dave hasn’t proven to be a major influence on Sam’s life and hockey career.

“I think we talk a little differently to each other now,” Sam Gagner explained. “I’ve got three kids of my own now so you kind of have a different perspective. I understand that I probably at times when you’re leaning on your parents it’s a lot to handle for parents, too. And I see that as a father myself now.

“He’s been so supportive. When I come to him needing help, needing support it’s always as a dad. It’s always the same. He’s been so supportive. You need that support from everybody – from him, my mom, my wife. As you go through a career, you go through a lot of ups and downs. It’s really important to that that support system. I’m thankful for that.”

Dave Gagner represents 23 NHLers, DeBrincat being the only Red Wings player. Among his clients are Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues, Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers and Nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadiens.