Blackhawks' DeBrincat heating up with Erie Otters

With the postseason fast approaching, Blackhawks fans are understandably gearing up for what they hope is another Stanley Cup championship.

But today, let's pull the lens back a bit and focus on the remarkable season that Alex DeBrincat is having in Erie, Pennsylvania, because it's quite a story.

The 5-foot-8 native of Farmington Hills, Michigan, had already put together back-to-back 50-goal seasons for the OHL's Erie Otters when the Hawks drafted in the second round (39th overall) last year.

This season, the numbers are even more ridiculous as DeBrincat has 62 goals - yep, 62! - in 59 games.

In a 4-1 victory on Friday, DeBrincat tied the league record by scoring a goal in his 19th straight game. He can break Mike Ricci's mark, set in 1988, on Sunday.

Oh, and he has 59 assists, which gives him 121 points.

"The one thing we can't take credit for - it's all on Alex - is how hard he's worked," said Mark Kelley, Blackhawks vice president of amateur scouting. "There's a lot of times you draft players and they go back and they get a little complacent in the league.

"Maybe they're bored. Maybe it's too easy. They let up a little bit. That's not the case with Alex."

DeBrincat is just the second OHL player to post three straight 50-goal seasons and the eighth to rattle off three straight 100-point seasons.

Yet when asked what part of his game has improved the most, the 19-year-old comes back with words that will be music to Joel Quenneville's ears.

"My defensive game has really come a long way," he said. "That's kind of something that I wanted to work on from last year to this year. That was the big thing that I know I need to do to get to the NHL. … My guy's not getting as many chances when I'm in my own zone."

Kelley said he and general manager Stan Bowman were "very surprised" DeBrincat wasn't taken in the first round. The Hawks' first pick last year came at No. 39, and when DeBrincat was still there, they pounced.

One issue could be his size, but Kelley isn't concerned.

"He's not the least bit timid, he's not small," Kelley said. "Growing up he's always played with older kids. So he's always been able to compensate. … His core strength is very, very good."

It will be interesting to see if DeBrincat becomes the latest in a long line of players taken in the second round or later that make teams kick themselves for not drafting them earlier. In the past 10 years, that list includes Brandon Saad (43), Tyler Toffoli (47), Nikita Kucherov (58), Tomas Tatar (60), Wayne Simmonds (61), Reilly Smith (69), Cody Eakin (85) and Johnny Gaudreau (104).

"Nothing's a guarantee," Kelley said. "The interesting thing on Alex is if you look at where he scores his goals, it's in locations where NHL goals are scored. He doesn't score goals from far outside with long shots. He's in the slot area, he's around the net, he gets the puck and he puts it in.

"Where he scores goals is transferable."

DeBrincat said he's able to score so much because he gets into open areas and is "in the right place at the right time."

Said Patrick Kane: "Talking to different people around the organization, they seem excited about him. His hockey sense is probably what stands out most about him."

The kid has plenty of common sense too and gave an impressive answer when asked what it would be like to play with Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Artemi Panarin if he makes the team next season.

"It would be really cool to play with those guys," DeBrincat said, "but I also have a season here and am worrying about other things."

As for future Blackhawks opponents, they may be worried about DeBrincat soon enough.

• Follow John on Twitter @johndietzdh

By the numbers

By the numbers

Alex DeBrincat's stats with the Erie Otters of the OHL:

Season G-A-Pts

2014-15 51-53-104

2015-16 51-50-101

2016-17 62-59-121

<b>OHL goal-scoring leaders</b>1. Alex DeBrincat, Erie 62

2. Dmitry Sokolov, Sudbury 44

3. O. Tippitt, Mississauga 43

<b>OHL scoring leaders</b>1. Alex DeBrincat, Erie 121

2. Taylor Raddysh, Erie 102

3. A. Mascherin, Kitcheneer 95

(Through Saturday)