How Good Can the Red Wings Be In 2025-26?
The Detroit Red Wings are heading into the 2025-26 season with a roster that feels like a mix of hope and hard-earned experience. Down the middle, they’re deep and versatile. Dylan Larkin remains the heart of the team, both as a leader and a top-line center who can drive play. Behind him are solid two-way guys like Andrew Copp and Michael Rasmussen, who bring grit and reliability. Marco Kasper is the wild card here. He’s young, talented, and carries a lot of potentials. If he breaks out, that could shift the entire dynamic of the lineup. Meanwhile, veterans like Mason Appleton, Tyler Motte, and Craig Smith give the team options across all four lines, even if their offensive ceilings aren’t all that high.
On the left and right wings, there’s a nice balance of skill, size, and experience. Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat headline the right side, and if Kane can stay healthy, that duo could cause real problems for opposing defenses. Kane’s health is particularly important given that he is resigning with the Red Wings earlier in the offseason, alongside his veteran leadership and his role in the organization. Lucas Raymond keeps trending upward as his creativity and speed are becoming harder to ignore. There’s also excitement around younger players like Jonatan Berggren, Carter Mazur, and Elmer Soderblom, who all have something to prove. James van Riemsdyk brings veteran experience to the table. He may be past his prime, but he still brings a smart net-front game, especially on the power play. JT Compher adds another layer of versatility, able to fill holes wherever needed.
The blue line is still a bit of a question mark. Moritz Seider continues to look like a future James Norris Memorial Trophy candidate, and the hope is that Simon Edvinsson takes the leap this year and solidifies himself as a top-pair guy. Beyond that, it’s a mix of steady veterans and developing players. Ben Chiarot and Erik Gustafsson offer experience, though they can be exposed in fast-paced matchups. The rest of the blue line with guys like Albert Johansson, Ian Mitchell, William Lagesson, Justin Holl, and Jacob Bernard-Docker have the tools, but there’s still a learning curve to be worked through, and not all of these guys are sure to be on the team when the first puck drops. Holl, in particular, could be on his way out when the NHL buyout period begins.
In net, it’s a high-risk, high-reward setup. John Gibson and Cam Talbot are both seasoned veterans, but neither has had a standout season in a while. If one of them can find their game again, Detroit might have something. If not, goaltending could become a real issue as the season wears on. All things considered, the Red Wings are in that tricky middle ground. There’s enough talent to push for a playoff spot, especially if the younger core steps up and the goaltending holds. However, they’re also a team that could fall short if a few things don’t break their way. There’s a quiet sense of momentum here. However, questions on defense depth and goaltending consistency may ultimately limit their ceiling to a wild-card berth at best.
