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Detroit Red Wings 2025-26 Season Preview: The Youth Movement and the Playoff Drought

Updated: Oct 7

Any Detroit Red Wings season preview for 2025-26 has to focus on the attention-grabbing preseason. This Red Wings preseason garnered more buzz than any preseason had in quite some time. The Red Wings initially created some buzz with Emmitt Finnie, a 2023 7th-round pick, playing with the first line alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Then, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (MBN) and Axel Sandin-Pellikka (ASP) became possibilities to join the opening night roster.


Of course, this attention didn't come solely from the idea that these players would make the team, but more so because they deserved to make it. When the team announced that they had placed defensemen Justin Holl and Erik Gustafsson on waivers, the team carrying three rookies felt inevitable. All three did end up making it.



The Red Wings are turning the page to fully embrace the Yzerplan. That's the biggest storyline this season, but that's not the only one worth following. The most obvious question is whether Dylan Larkin can lead this team to the playoffs, ending their nine-year playoff drought. The Red Wings and the playoffs have become a point of discussion over the last several seasons.


In 2022-23, they garnered some pre-deadline momentum, but back-to-back losses to the Ottawa Senators, followed by a tough loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, led Steve Yzerman to sell at the deadline. The following season, bolstered by the addition of Patrick Kane, the Red Wings took their playoff hopes down to the final game of the season. A seven-game losing streak in March hurt their chances. Then, last season, the Red Wings had a slow start that warranted a coaching change. Todd McLellan came in and helped the Red Wings get back in the race before another poor March ended their hopes.


Detroit Red Wings Season Preview: Forwards

It seems pretty clear that the Red Wings used their opening night lineup in their final preseason game. The most settled of which is the second line, featuring Alex DeBrincat, Marco Kasper, and Patrick Kane. That line proved to be quite dangerous last season. Kane and Kasper benefited from the coaching change. After McLellan took over, Kane finished the season with 45 points in 43 games, and Kasper finished the season with 30 points in 48 games. With DeBrincat just missing 40 goals, this lineup should produce.



The top line will have two fixtures: Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Raymond had his best season, leading the team in points (80). Larkin is, of course, the team's most consistent player over the last decade. For now, it appears that Emmitt Finnie has earned the top line left wing role. Throughout the season, don't be surprised to see Andrew Copp, James van Riemsdyk, or Elmer Söderblom have some run there. If Finnie can keep up with Larkin and Raymond and find himself in the right places at the right times, he'll keep that spot.


The third line currently has Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård. Copp and Compher need to have strong seasons if the Red Wings hope to make the playoffs. They both play similar roles (winning puck battles and faceoffs, getting in the dirty areas). MBN does that well, too. He gets into the dirty areas and fights for possession. On this line, though, he'll need to provide some scoring punch, something the Red Wings' bottom six sorely needs. In the preseason, he showed off his impressive shot and ability to find the open spot. The fourth line currently has Elmer Söderblom, Michael Rasmussen, and Mason Appleton. This line should provide some physicality, and with Söderblom, some scoring.


LW

Center

RW

Emmitt Finnie (R)

Dylan Larkin

Lucas Raymond

Alex DeBrincat

Marco Kasper

Patrick Kane

Andrew Copp

J.T. Compher

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (R)

Elmer Söderblom

Michael Rasmussen

Mason Appleton

James Van Riemsdyk


Jonatan Berggren

Appleton will likely find his way onto the ice most nights because of his role on the penalty kill, but Jonatan Berggren could find his way into the lineup from time to time. When JVR returns, don't be surprised to see the lineup shaken up. Copp could take over centering the third line, and Compher could move to the fourth line to allow JVR to play alongside Copp and MBN. That would mean either Rasmussen or Söderblom getting a healthy scratch. The time for Rasmussen and Compher may come to an end at some point this season, especially if their play doesn't pick up or if Nate Danielson lights it up in Grand Rapids once he returns from his injury.


Detroit Red Wings Season Preview: Defensemen and Goalies

The Red Wings' defensemen have been a weakness on this team for a while now. Moritz Seider has been tasked with the most difficult minutes in the NHL season after season, preventing him from shining on offense. This season, Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson each leading a pair should take some pressure off of him. Seider is already great. This relief could allow him to shine even more.



Ben Chiarot will join Seider on the first pair. Edvinsson will start with Jacob Bernard-Docker (JBD), but Travis Hamonic or Johansson may play alongside him this year as well. Johansson will start the year paired with the rookie, Sandin-Pellikka. Gustafsson is also on the team and may see some third-pair minutes in a configuration that uses Johansson or JBD on the right side. A Gustafsson-ASP pair would be unfair to the rookie, burdening him with the veteran's defensive liabilities. However, despite their inexperience, this group should be the Red Wings' best in years.


LD

RD

G

Ben Chiarot

Moritz Seider

John Gibson

Simon Edvinsson

Jacob Bernard-Docker

Cam Talbot

Albert Johansson

Axel Sandin-Pellikka

Erik Gustafsson

Travis Hamonic



The situation in goal is also the best it has been in some time. After trying Ville Husso, Alex Lyon, James Reimer, and Petr Mrázek in goal over the course of the past few seasons, the Red Wings have some stability with new addition John Gibson and veteran Cam Talbot. The combination of Gibson and Talbot in goal should hold up better this season. Gibson is coming off an injury-shortened season, but has a career save percentage of .910. Talbot started strong for Detroit last season, but appeared to run out of gas as the season wore on. With Gibson taking the majority of the reps there, Talbot should be fresher as the season wears on.


Detroit Red Wings Season Preview: Keys to Success

The Red Wings need a lot to go right to sneak into the playoffs. Their choice to keep three rookies on the roster goes a long way toward that goal. They'll need all three to contribute, of course, but more so, they'll need a team-wide emphasis on controlling the puck. Last season, the Red Wings struggled to keep the puck in their offensive zone and outside of the opposition's. Overall, it was a sloppy product that put a lot of pressure on the goaltender every night to bail them out. After a while, this strategy (if you can call it that) failed. They've improved in goal, but if they want to make the playoffs, they won't depend on Gibson and Talbot to save them every night.



To succeed this season, they'll need to do more of the "little" things, like winning faceoffs and puck battles. It seems obvious, but too often, their problems will get blamed on not having a superstar. Doing many "small" things right will lead to big results. It's an ethos that works across sports, and Todd McLellan has brought it to the Red Wings. It's no surprise that Justin Holl isn't with the team to start the season. He doesn't do the "small" things.


The Red Wings' top six forwards and top four defensemen should be able to hold their own. The question is whether their depth players can do the same. If the rookies can step up, and if veterans like Chiarot, Copp, and Compher can do a little more, this team could sneak into the playoffs.


Detroit Red Wings Season Preview Verdict

It's unlikely that this team will make the playoffs, but it's also not impossible. McLellan's approach to coaching should instill confidence in the fans. The preseason is over, but that doesn't mean the team's success has to be as well. They look alive and are playing "pucking" hockey, as McLellan puts it.


One thing that has been noticeably missing during long stretches over the last few seasons is competitiveness. This team looks aggressive and displays a desire to win. It's not quantifiable, which will drive many media members mad, but it matters. The approach to the game and the culture matter just as much as talent. The other teams in Detroit have adopted a reputation for grit. If the Red Wings can follow their example, there is no reason to believe that they can't be a 90-point team or better and make the playoffs.


(All stats provided by Hockey Reference)


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