Alex DeBrincat will make his first preseason start for the Chicago Blackhawks when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins at 6:05 p.m. Friday at the Consol Energy Center.
DeBrincat, the team’s second-round pick in this year’s draft, surpassed 50 assists in each of the last two seasons, with 53 in 2014-15 and 50 in 2015-16. And while his point total did fall from 104 in 2014-15 to 101 last season, his points per game rate climbed from 1.5 to 1.68, as he appeared in eight fewer games (60 rather than 68). His performance in the CHL playoffs also improved last year, as he improved from 16 points in 20 games in 2014-15 to 19 points in just 13 games last season.