What’s that old saying about judging a book by its cover? Alex DeBrincat is among the smallest players in the NHL at 5-8 and 180 pounds. But when he’s triggered, he can be quite the combative cat.

Washington, D.C. — You notice it nearly every game, at some point, that Alex DeBrincat is going to agitate an opposing player. Not necessarily in the sense of saying something, or using his ...