The Detroit Red Wings are looking to their centennial season, hopeful that 2025-26 holds a long-anticipated return to the playoffs.
Nearly a decade since they last appeared in the postseason, the Original Six franchise believes its young core, new veteran signees and improved depth may finally get them there.
Detroit regained ground last year under first-year coach Todd McLellan, going 39-35-8 and finishing sixth in the Atlantic Division.
Their second-half charge, playing a .583 points percentage pace, indicated what the team would be capable of if they can be consistent for a full season — but there are still concerns regarding scoring even-strength, defensive depth and if the team has enough in net to keep with the league’s heavyweights.
The offseason was filled with bold decisions. The Red Wings made the trade for veteran goalie John Gibson, counting on his experience to settle the crease after decades of inconsistency. Gibson, 32, comes over from Anaheim with more than 400 NHL starts and a history of being asked to carry a heavy load.
Detroit also re-signed Patrick Kane to a one-year $3 million contract, bringing leadership and secondary scoring to a forward group built around captain Dylan Larkin, sniper Alex DeBrincat and playmaker Lucas Raymond. Younger forwards Marco Kasper and Jonatan Berggren should make a case for expanded roles.
Defensively, Moritz Seider backs a unit that is still developing. The 24-year-old is one of the NHL’s top young blueliners, but Detroit needs more production from its supporting group.
Prospects Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson will be handed major minutes, but veterans provide stability. How much the defensive unit is able to assist Seider and Gibson will be paramount if the Wings are to stay afloat in a competitive Atlantic Division.
Detroit’s centennial celebration merely adds to the urgency. Fans want more than construction — they want delivery.
The franchise survived a methodical, measured rebuild under general manager Steve Yzerman, who treaded the thin line between patience and ferocity. With an even-keeled mix of veterans and youngsters now in place, there is even more to anticipate.
The keys to Detroit’s season are straightforward.
Goaltending stability
If Gibson can hold up, the Wings have a reliable foundation. Even-strength scoring. Detroit’s top six need to produce more 5-on-5.
Blue line depth
Seider can’t carry it alone; Edvinsson and others must step up.
Health and consistency
A young roster needs to remain healthy across 82 games, so they can continue to gel together.
Oddsmakers are being cautious.
The Red Wings begin the season at +10,000 to win the Stanley Cup, which ranks them in the lower third of the league.
Odds to win the division are at +3,000, and many sportsbooks have Detroit more likely to be a non-playoff team than playoff team — yet the pieces for the breakthrough are there, especially if the core continues to develop and Gibson brings the stability they’ve lacked in goal.
For Detroit, 2025-26 represents more than a century marker. It’s a proving ground.
The wild-card opportunity is within reach, but another mediocre season would test the patience of fans who have waited nearly a decade for playoff hockey at Little Caesars Arena.