Alex DeBrincat scores in Hawks debut; Brandon Saad posts hat trick

Richard Panik’s skates had barely begun to turn when Alex DeBrincat’s hockey sense started tingling. The Blackhawks rookie knew Panik was stopping short to look for a centering pass, and DeBrincat saw a soft spot right in the slot. Three quick strides later, he was alone between the circles, and in perfect position for Panik’s pass. A flick of the wrists later, DeBrincat had his first NHL goal.

Sure, it was the preseason. Sure, it came against a motley crew of fringe players and minor-leaguers. But yes, it appears that Alex DeBrincat very much can play this game.

And with every day that passes with DeBrincat still on a line with Nick Schmaltz and Patrick Kane, the possibility that he makes the team out of camp gets more realistic.

“It’s still a long way from the season,” DeBrincat said before making his preseason debut in the Hawks’ 6-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night. “But obviously I’m fighting for that spot each and every day. I’m coming to the rink with the mindset that I can’t take the [Kane] line for granted and just float around out there. I’ve got to work hard and compete and show them that’s where I should be.”

That attitude was evident on Thursday night, as DeBrincat, Schmaltz and Kane at times toyed with the Red Wings B-team. If not for a brilliant Petr Mrazek save early on, Kane would have had a goal set up by some slick passing by his two linemates. Schmaltz, in particular, has been exceptional so far in camp.

As for the rest of the Hawks, old newcomers Brandon Saad had a hat trick and Patrick Sharp added two assists. Corey Crawford made 30 saves in two periods.

Joel Quenneville has been impressed with the 19-year-old DeBrincat, the Hawks’ most touted prospect since Teuvo Teravainen, and has kept that trio together since the second day of camp. The sheer talent of the line is not in question — Kane has a Hart Trophy and scoring title to his credit, DeBrincat is the reigning Ontario Hockey League player of the year after scoring 65 goals in 63 games, and Schmaltz was a first-round pick who had five goals and 18 assists in 34 games in his second stint with the Hawks last season.

But there’s not a lot of size or muscle on the line. DeBrincat, who at 5-7 has been told he’s too small his whole life, isn’t concerned, however.

“The game’s changed a little bit,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of skill guys and I think we work pretty well together. So I think it could definitely work out.”

DeBrincat has the same knack Kane has for avoiding contact without taking himself out of the play. It’s a skill he honed over the years as a smaller guy always playing against older competition. Kane has noticed.

“When I was coming into the league, there was a lot of talk about my size and whatnot,” Kane said. “As hockey players, you don’t even think about that. You’re just out there playing the game and not worried about if the defenseman you’re going up against is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. You’re just worried about trying to get the puck and make a play. I’m sure he’s the same way.”

That said, the players in the NHL are bigger, stronger, faster, and savvier than the ones in the OHL. There are no weak links, no overmatched bottom-six to feast on, like in juniors. DeBrincat makes his living finding open areas of the ice, and using his lightning-quick release to get off shots — like he did on his goal Thursday night.

Those areas are harder to find in the NHL and one week into camp, before he even had played a preseason game, DeBrincat has noticed.

“You can just tell who’s played in the NHL and who hasn’t,” DeBrincat said. “They know where to be. There’s a lot of great players out there, and even in practice, it’s pretty tough to find space and areas. But that’s something I’m just going to have to get accustomed to, and find my way out there.”

If he keeps this up, he just might find his way into the opening-night lineup.

DeBrincat says all the right things, too. Despite growing up in the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills loving the Red Wings and loathing the Hawks, he had no qualms about going up against his boyhood favorites.

“My Wings days are over,” DeBrincat said. “I’m a full Hawks fan now. [It changes] the minute you’re drafted.”

NOTE: Eddie Olczyk, who is battling colon cancer, was at Thursday’s morning skate, looking and sounding great. He just started six months of every-other-week chemotherapy last week. “Eddie looked good, great seeing him,” Quenneville said. “We’re thinking about him every day. I liked his enthusiasm today. He was happy to be here and we’re definitely thinking of him.”

Email: mlazerus@suntimes.com

Twitter: @marklazerus

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