The 2025-26 Detroit Red Wings enter the season with renewed hope after acquiring John Gibson, but closing the gap in the division will hinge on fixing their penalty kill and defensive depth.
Key losses: Vladimir Tarasenko, Petr Mrazek. Key Additions: John Gibson, James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton, Jacob Bernard-Docker.
Line Projection (via NHL.com) - Forwards: Raymond - Larkin - Berggren; DeBrincat - Kasper - Kane; Rasmussen - Compher - van Riemsdyk; Soderblom - Copp - Appleton. Defense: Chiarot - Seider; Edvinsson - Johansson. Goalies: Gibson - Talbot.
For the Detroit Red Wings to close the gap and begin to pull out of a lengthy rebuild, some things need to be cleaned up. First and perhaps foremost, the Red Wings need to be better defensively. During the 2024-25 NHL season, Detroit allowed 259 goals, which was the 12th most in the league. At just 70.1 percent, the Red Wings’ penalty kill was dead last in the NHL. Those are starting point areas for Todd McLellan, who enters his first full season on the Red Wings bench after taking over last December for Derek Lalonde.
Detroit needs to play harder and smarter for longer lengths than it has in the previous few seasons. The team went into a tailspin from February 27 to March 10 and took itself out of the playoff picture. McLellan should provide more stability should the lapses reappear during the season.
More scoring is also needed. Last season, Detroit scored 238 goals and ranked 22nd out of 32 NHL teams. Nate Danielson, who was drafted 9th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Level Draft, is knocking on the door to join the Red Wings. Being able to play center and wing gives both Danielson and the Red Wings some versatility, which would help the offense be more consistent.
Goaltending has been a thorn in the Detroit Red Wings’ side for some time now. Enter John Gibson, who was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks. Gibson ranked fourth in save percentage last season with .930 in 29 games played.
If Detroit gets better defensive play and the penalty kill improves, they will be in the thick of the playoff chase.
POPULAR
NCAAF
Nick Minicucci Drops 340 as Delaware Opens FBS Life With a 42–7 Statement Against Merrimack
By Austyn McFadden
NCAAF
UCF Turns Bethune-Cookman Into a 73–6 Bounce House Demo
By Austyn McFadden
NCAAF
Gio Lopez Torches Akron Vertically as Wake Forest Opens With a 38–16 Statement
By Austyn McFadden
NCAAF
Pop Watson Ends UMass’s 16-Game Nightmare as Rutgers Opens With a 37–21 Home Meltdown
By Austyn McFadden
Related
NHL
Tampa Bay Storms Back With Five Unanswered Goals In Third-Period Chaos
By Samantha Nau
NHL
The Columbus Blue Jackets Keep Rolling
By Brian Wallace
NHL
The Columbus Blue Jackets And The Playoff Chase
By Brian Wallace
NHL
Blue Jackets vs. Rangers: Adam Fantilli’s Two-Goal Night Powers Columbus to 11-Game Point Streak
By Austyn McFadden
NEWSLETTER
Get the board before the buzz
Sharp coverage across football, basketball, soccer, and the business behind the game.