Detroit Red Wings 2025-26 Season Preview | The Steve Dangle Podcast

It’s the season preview that no Detroit Redwing really wanted or Redwing fan really wanted. A season preview of the Detroit Red Wings. What? Well, we all see the roster, don’t we? Oh my god. We all We all see what’s happening here, don’t don’t we? Well, you must. Outside of goalending, which I would like to get to, it is virtually a preview. We don’t do goalending, right? It it is virtually the same team. Uh, and let’s talk about how that team finished last year because they were excellent. Just ask Detroit Redwing fans who are definitely not fed up. Adam, you’re lower on this team than I am. I am not this negative. 86 points last year. Bet MGM is wondering what you think. Uh, I’m just pulling it up because I pulled up the wrong team. Here it is. Detroit 86 points last year. What do you guys think? Bet MGM has them at 89 and a half. That’s probably Yeah, right in there. Um, I’ll go 87 and a half. 84 and a half. And I’m taking Wow. And I am taking the under. Uh, I will take the over. And I love John Gibson. I think he’ll be great for this team. I just don’t think this is a great team. Steve, are you over? Are you under? 84 and a half. I’m going to talk out of both sides of my mouth a lot in this preview. Uh, maybe more than any other team. Over, which flies right in the face of where I have them ranked. Er, and what’s hilarious about this is like, you know, everybody’s giving me crap about the my my Ducks playoff take. The Ducks only finished with three fewer wins in terms of points than what they’re projected to be. Ducks had an 80 point season last year. Detroit had an 86. It ain’t that different, guys. So, look at this. Apples and oranges, different conference. All right. That’s not Well, okay. I’ll I’ll say this in Detroit’s and everyone’s uh defense. Uh they don’t have any. When we after Cider, when we started uh these previews, uh we lived in a different world in terms of the NHL. Uh the Atlantic is a mess right now. A total mess. Like Tampa’s got so many questions because of injury. Florida has so many way more questions because of injury. Uh the Leafs, I think, are still pretty good. They lost the fifth leading scoreer from the NHL last year. Y Boston is a wild card. not a wild card team. They might be a wild card team. Montreal and Ottawa both have questions. Buffalo has the talent, but will they continue to be Buffalo? It’s it might be the hardest division to pick. Well, let’s let’s I mean, since we’re on Detroit, let’s uh look at the goalending here. Combined age of 70 years of old 70 years old, John Gibson and Cam Talbin. Uh the combined cap hit of $8.9 million. Now, I think guys, John Gibson’s a really good pickup for this team. He is a goalie that they’ve been looking for. And taking like him and well, I was going to say Talba can take starts away from him. That’s not really true on account of like Gibson was number two to do last year, but Gibson can take starts away from him. Mhm. Um they’re I I said they were virtually the same team in net. I think they’re far better. No question. Yeah. No question last year was seven goalies, right? They were like, “We don’t know who’s going to take this.” And inevitably, you’d think, “Hey, one of these guys is going to take this torch and run with it.” None of them did. It’s not It was just not a great position for them last year. I think with Cam Talbat and John Gibson, you’re solidified like that. You can rely on that. You kind of know what you’re getting. I don’t look at the age or or worry about it too much. I just thought it was a cool stat. It’s Oh, no. It’s definitely a cool stat, but like you’re fine right now. you got a guy like Sebastian Kosa like in in waiting. Um it’s better than it was last year and that’s the beginning, middle, and end of it. Do you not think that a goalender like John Gibson can transform this team entirely? Because I’m on the opinion like the fact that they have him and he had a 912 on the Ducks on a terrible Ducks team. if he’s able to prop them up to a point where they haven’t been in the last decade where they get like really solid goalending, it might not take a lot after that to boost them to a playoff spot. Uh like honestly, Jesse, like because listen, I’ll spoil it right now. I have them seventh and but I also have them over on 84 and a half, which those two things aren’t compatible. If they finish above that, they will not finish seventh in the division. That’s that’s not going to happen. It’d be kind of weird. I think I I keep using this term. They’re going to be right in the hunt. Um they’re usually in the hunt. Um I expect them to be right in the hunt deep into March, maybe into April, and then we’ll see. Jesse, when I look at uh your John Gibson thing, and I do agree with you, I do think he transforms the position. The one question mark I’m going to have, and I have the same question for the lease goalending, by the way, is the last time John Gibson played over 30 games, uh, he had an 888 save percentage. And last year behind Lucas Doall, that’s that’s a year and a half ago. Um, that team sucked. Yeah, last year’s team wasn’t good either, but he had better numbers in fewer games. I want to know what he’s going to do with a defense core that needed looked at itself. We got the last year of Ben Sherro. We got the last year of Justin Hall. We know that Eric Gustoson doesn’t play defense. So, who do we need to add? Travis Hamick. So, here, can you read it out? What their defense? Just their whole decor. Okay, I’ll just read it out. I’m not reading out pairings. Cider, amazing. Great. Ben Sherro, great. If you’re going to the playoffs, Justin Hall, vibes guy, really good person. Won’t play much. Won’t play much. Eric Gustiffson, fine. Albert Johansson, fine. Travis Hamick sub. Fine. Uh, Simon Evson on the ups. Jacob Bernard Docker who was highly touted in Ottawa for many years and is now 25. Can you believe that? Fine. Yeah. Fine is kind. It is a uh not not about Jacob Bernard Docker, but we’re talking about the whole Defense Core. It is very much Mo Cider and his band of merry men. Yeah. Like he’s he’s unreal. We’re about to see how good Moider is carrying this defense core. Like you can’t, this is the problem for me with Detroit is you can’t look at that defense core and go that’s anywhere near the playoffs. I Anaheim’s defense core last year is better than what Detroit’s is this year overall. It’s the number one thing about them like cuz you look at them up front. I don’t think they’re anything spectacular, but they’re good. Um I like their goalending. They’re Yeah, that decor is terrible. It’s It’s really not strong. And and what’s what’s weird about Detroit and the season that they’re about to have, I think Steve Eisermanman tried to spend more money than he did. Mhm. He couldn’t. They have $12 million, just shy of 12 million spend it on. And Detroit did not used to be a hard place to sell people on, but the direction of this franchise, you have to call into question. I mean, if you had an option for a one or two-year deal, uh, wait, I think they’ll end up fine. I do. Not this year. Not this year. The The one the leeway I’m willing to give this team in that we can’t take too much from last year is that we forget they fired Derrick Leon at the end of December. Yes. And Todd Mlelen, they were a better team under him. They had a good first 10 games under him. No question. did the beginning of the season was a disaster and there’s a reason that Mlullen got fired and I Leon sorry Leon is the names back there’s a reason Leon got fired and under Mlen they look like a little bit of a better team and the they had a tough stretch to end the season I know from March 1st on they had like the 27th count they had like the 22nd or 27th best record in the league like they were they were bad and and that’s the time when they should have been good exactly they had a great stretch from when he was hired till about four nations and then after that they weren’t that great and they weren’t really challenging for the playoff spot. So I wonder now full camp under a new head coach they can get the things sorted that they need to get sorted. Maybe this team’s taken a little bit of a step here. Well, and you know what that’s really what needs to happen. There needs to be a step taken and I think you look at their top two lines and you don’t hate it. I mean, Larkin, Raymond, Soderblanc, Debrink, Cat, Casper, Kane, I may maybe JT Confer moves up, but they’re gonna get some improvement from within with young guys. Soda Blum and Casper. Yeah. And that’s not that’s not our friend Harvard Soder Blum who always shouts out the Leafs in Chicago. Um, that’s a different Soder Blum, but I look at Okay, so you’ve that’s a that’s good. You are missing a bonafide NHL second line center, but maybe JT Conffer takes some of the defensive starts away from Casper and switches. You know, there’s plenty of things a coach can do. Cop comp for Appleton. I’ve always liked Mason Appleton, but ultimately, is Mason Appleton changing your franchise? And if he is, it’s a solid middle six. Yeah. But if he if Mason Appleton’s changing your franchise, your franchise probably not in the best place. Yeah. And so I look at that third line, I’m like, that’s a solid third line. It’s fine. Sure. Uh Van Reeke, still great to see James Van Ree. I will never not love him. Uh you know, back in the division, Rasmmanson and Bergen. Um it’s just what it’s lacking to me guys outside of Lark and Raymond Debrinkat and Kane Kane who’s you know had a great year last year is that what else factor you know and I and at 29 years old it’s too good of a league I I think is what you’re getting at like they’re fine the the teams that it’s so rare to look at a team on paper and be like this is hot garbage this team always good players or like maybe there’s part of it but overall the team is fine. Like I kind of think Detroit falls into that category. If you look at a roster and go, “Yeah, it’s fine. They’re bad.” Like it’s too good of a league. And and here’s the other question you guys always or Steve you always kind of harp on this and I think it’s a smart one and and I want you both to answer this question in your own way. Okay. What is if there is one to be had the identity of the Detroit Red Wings this year? What do they stand for? If you were to take 60 people who watch hockey regularly, what would they say about the Detroit Red Wings to a person? I’ll tell you what it ought to be. Um, it ought to be a fast skating rushing team. Um, capable of scoring. They have the puck more than they don’t. Jesse, I think there’s an opportunity there where you named like you’re saying, okay, they’re kind of missing the thing for this team. I think the identity of this team is they have an opportunity for a a trio or a quartet of young guys to take control of this team and make this a good a relatively decent scoring team who plays some solid defense. If you look at Raymond and Casper up front, they can take another step in their career. And if you go Cider and Edmonson at the back end, there’s two young talents who can take the next step in their career. So like if you want to go five guys, add Larkin to that. Who’s the age? Who’s the the veteran who’s there? Who’s the first line center who’s always going to be there? So you can h hand this team over to Raymond, Casper, Edmonson, and Cider and have that young crew be the identity of the team. Uh I want to um solidify your point about Todd Mlullen. For some reason, Hockey DB didn’t have it. They were 26 18 and three. It’s a good record, man. under under Mlen like well above I mean Derek Lalone was fired they were they were below 500 and by the end of the season they were above I’m going to caution this I mean the same thing happened with Bruce Budro with the Vancouver Conucks took over at the same time Canucks went on a winning streak it’s hard to put too much time Bruce there it is sorry I got to see a full season and that stretch from March 1st on that I was referring to before they’re 27th in the league 912 and two so if you take that stretch from when Mlen was hired from the end of December for two March 1st. They’re they’re a really good hockey team. It’s just they had a couple really stinkers stretches in in in the season. Couldn’t you say that about most teams though? Yes. But this one they made a wholesale change in the coaching staff. And I think like defense team defense has to be such a big thing that they emphasized during this training camp and for the season cuz they were dead last in penalty kill. And that’s something that you can coach people to be good at. Sure can. And they the coaching staff who was there last year didn’t do it. Now they’ve got a full training camp with them. So, let’s let’s hope they fix that. They also were 21st in goals against and 22nd in goals four. So, that was the fewest goals for in the Atlantic. There’s a lot of issues there that they can solve um that they need to be solving this year if they want to take a step. Something I’m keeping an eye on is this. Oh, sorry. They were ahead of the Bruins. Something I’m keeping an eye on is this is uh Dylan Lin’s 10th season. Well, it’s 11 season 11 really because he started in 1516. He has played five playoff games his entire career. 734 games with the Red Wings. Five. 700. That babyfaced child. I know. He’s 29 years old. He’s on a good for so long. And this is the question. He’s going to be an Olympian this year. Assuming he’s healthy. He was great at Four Nations. How long before Dylan C Dylan Cousins Dylan Larkin says, “Okay, enough.” Uncle, no. No, he’s got Does he want to play in the playoffs? He’s got five years left on his deal. It’s I was trying to allude. It’s Larkin and the four kids who I think are going to be really good. Okay, that’s the that’s the core of this team and they’ve got to see what they got with these guys. I don’t think Lens is even close to leaving Detroit. So then this is my this is my thing. We’re running up on 15 minutes. Yes. I’m sorry. Sorry. I have to say this about Detroit before we get to the predictions. The league is better when Detroit’s good. Yeah. Oh yeah. It’s always better when the Red Wings are good. And it’s been a shame how we’ve been robbed of that for the last decade. So, Jesse, Steve, where do you have them ranked this year? I need to see more before I have them ranked higher than seventh. It wouldn’t shock me at all if they were higher, but seventh. Jesse, I’m going sixth. I am super low on the Detroit Red Wings. I have them last in the division. Below Buffalo, I think Buffalo’s better. Wow. I really do. So, we’ll get to that preview later. This is the Detroit Red Wings preview and I’m sorry in advance.

Steve Dangle, Adam Wylde and Jesse Blake preview the 2025 Detroit Red-Wings season. Will the Yzerplan finally start to work?

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46 comments

  5. Angry Red Wings comment! For real though you’re discounting the new pk as well as an off season with Todd and the emergence of a young core including MBN and Kasper

  7. So much missing from this. MBN, ASP, Finnie likely making opening night. That nearly doubles the young guns in the lineup, seriously solidifying the young run-and-gun identity. Gibson and Talbot will solidify the goaltending behind them. Aside from the obvious Seider/Ed being legit top four guys, AlJo and ASP are exciting too and ASP can move the puck like a madman. Holl, Bernard-Docker, Hamonic are just great depth on the blue line for the Wings. They also have Wallinder in GR. SDP boys need to be better educated before dropping a turd like this. Also, to all the Leafs fans: please stop being so delulu about Marner leaving. He was an INSANELY impactful player and without him the team will be worse. Full stop. He was the best playoff performer points wise and he was so great with his two-way game.

  9. Wow alot of butthurt leaf fans from the last couple games. I don't see much difference 1 through 8 in this division. Very well balanced. It could be anyones this year. Its gonna be a great centennial. Btw Detroit has 3 better Dmen than your #1. Why you so worried about our D lol.

  10. The first two months of Detroits season last year were a complete write-off. The coach swap happens, and they come alive. The firing of Lalonde should have happened after October, this year, they should make it.

  13. Can these guys stop ignoring Sandin-Pellikka? He's a top 3 defenseman prospect in the entire NHL and he's making the opening night roster. They clearly don't know much about the Wings.

  15. Are these Leaf fans telling us about delusion? You are not watching who these players in the system are. Montreal and Ottawa? They’re behind us. Leafs are gonna fall very soon.

  18. Yzerman's plan is to "Wait for the Kids". You guys are practically saying this team is good, but not great. Yzerman can't really say it, but with the short contract signings and not much spending, it is showing that he is not confident in this team in being a playoff contender right now. Plus Yzerman has not been good in Pro Scouting, but great in drafting. So it appears that his plan is to draft and let the kids develop until they are ready to come up, and hoping that he has essentially built a home-grown playoff contention team for years to come. And it's frustrating to the fans because they have not made the playoffs in around 10 seasons, and we are in year 7 of Yzerman's tenure.

  19. This may sound "bad" but I can tell that the panel are Leafs fans with only a cursory knowledge of other teams. There was no mention of specific prospects that have played very well for the Wings in this camp (MBN, ASP and Finnie). Edvinnson is a stud and would be the top defender on pretty much every team in the league. Johansson is a top 4 defender. If you as a group insist on spending your time to produce this content, please do more research. You don't need to do THG level research as he honestly covers the entire league where your content is 95% Toronto based but still. I feel like I wasted my time watching this preview and that means that I won't be spending any time on the rest of the previews because they will be just as lacking.

  24. It's been said that Detroit will be 8th in the Atlantic for the past few years and they've exceeded expectations. Let's see what the youth injections (several prospects are making the coaching staff make some hard decisions atm) and a full year under the new coach.

  30. "maybe Compher can replace Kasper as 2C"

    Why are people who know nothing about a subject doing entire videos about the subject? JT Compher is literally closer to being waived than he is to being 2C. Marco Kasper is centering a line that was great last year together and great in camp together.

  31. Moritz Seider is 24 years old.
    Albert Johansson is 24.
    Lucas Raymond is 23.
    Simon Edvinsson is 22.
    Marco Kasper is 21.
    Nate Danielson is 21.
    Axel Sandin Pellikka is 20.
    Emmitt Finnie is 20.
    Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is 20.

    Seider, Larkin, and Raymond are signed for less than $26 mil combined through 2030.

    The Atlantic is really tough so I wouldn't count on playoffs this year, but this roster is primed to take off.

  35. Yzerman knows so much more about hockey than all of you. You will be proven wrong once again. Maybe try to learn about other team's rookies. GO LEAFS GO! 🇨🇦 🤣🤣🤣

  36. Wings are getting 3rd in the division. The additions of MBN, ASP, and Finnie as well as Gibson in net, are going to propel them, as well as Florida falling off due to all the injuries and games played the past 3 seasons. We just waived Holl and Gustafson. That's addition by subtraction there. Last night our d-pairs were Chiarot/Seider, Edvinsson/JBD
    AlJo/ASP

    That's not as bad as it was even 2 weeks ago. Johansson has been markedly improved since last season.

    The forward group is looking like (when Danielson gets back from injury)

    Finnie Larkin Raymond
    Cat Kasper Kane
    Soderblom Danielson MBN
    Rasmussen Copp Appleton

    Extras: Berggren, Hamonic, JVR

    I am really interested in seeing what this young team can do. I think they get into the playoffs, and I'm predicting 3rd place.

  37. The Yzerplan ran up against the rebuild trajectories of Ottawa and Montreal, and not enough better teams above them in the standings imploding (except Boston and the Rangers). Upgrading their goaltending with older veterans settling things down is what a young defence needs. If they hadn't had Debrincat drop into their lap a couple seasons ago, the Yzerplan would be under even more criticism than it already gets.

  38. "it's the same team as last year" okay so let's only look at the team under their current coach and not the one that was fired during the season. The team with a .583 points percentage. That over 82 games would have been good enough for 3rd in the division. This team is really not as bad as people say they are, and with Gibson and some young guys on this team… The over on the wings is the safest bet in hockey

  40. You guys just can't be taken seriously when talking about any other team. Just Adam with his constant, "Guys… c'mon.." At this point, I just assume you guys do this terribly on purpose to drive engagement. Not watching this uninformed garbage lol.

  44. these guys really only know the Leafs. No clue on Kasper. ASP and MBN making this club and Danielson would've if he didn't get hurt. Plus Edvinsson is fine lol. He'd be the Leafs best D lol.

  45. Soooo easy to be negative because if the team gets 95-100 points and makes the playoffs no skin off your nose, if you say they they will be good and they bomb you podcast looks bad. Looks bad already imo

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