The Detroit News
| The Detroit News
The Detroit News’ Ted Kulfan, Mark Falkner, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski make their predictions for the Red Wings’ 2025-26 season.
▶ Ted Kulfan: The Red Wings aren’t bad, they might even be a bit better than last season. But it’s so difficult to make headway in the Atlantic Division. The top three of Florida, Tampa and Toronto aren’t falling out of the playoff picture. Ottawa probably will be better and Montreal could be at least as good. The Metropolitan Division has good wild-card contenders, too. So that makes the road to the playoffs extremely difficult for the Wings. The Wings’ young talent is impressive, and there should be internal improvement. But a leap into the playoffs? I just don’t see it. Points prediction: 87. Playoffs: No.
▶ Mark Falkner: The Red Wings were on a 96-point pace last year under coach Todd McLellan until Andrew Copp’s injury against the Wild on Feb. 22, 2025. They were playoff-bound the year before until Dylan Larkin’s injury against the Panthers on March 2, 2024. Depth of top talent is still a problem, but the Wings will be better prepared for those more difficult games down the stretch with more competitive players like Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Mason Appleton, and fewer Lady Byng candidates like Vladimir Tarasenko (three penalties all year, only three goals in victories, shipped out). Don’t be surprised by a 10-point improvement from last year’s 86-point team and the first playoff hockey ever at Little Caesars Arena. Points prediction: 96. Playoffs: Yes.
▶ John Niyo: The rookie roster infusion should give the Wings some extra energy to start the season. Ideally, it’s more than that, though, with Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Axel Sandin-Pellikka in particular adding some missing ingredients offensively. But the key to this team making a leap in the standings still may rest on questionable blue line depth and getting more consistent goaltending. It took 91 points to make the playoffs in the East the last two years. I think there’s enough talent here now to get there, and a better start after a full preseason with Todd McLellan might be the difference in the end. Points prediction: 92. Playoffs: Yes
▶ Bob Wojnowski: As always with the Red Wings, it appears any improvement will be incremental. The only notable “splash” was acquiring veteran goalie John Gibson, a good move. They’ll also have Todd McLellan as head coach for a full year, which should help. Beyond that, Steve Yzerman isn’t straying from the plan (confidently or stubbornly). The Wings are riding a nine-year playoff-less streak, and it’s about time key players reward his faith in them. The Wings should have adequate scoring with Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, Patrick Kane and rising Marco Kasper. Some youth is arriving, with three rookies, including promising defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Defense remains the issue, and if Gibson stabilizes the goaltending and Moritz Seider takes another step up, the Wings again will contend for a playoff spot into the final week. Points prediction: 90. Playoffs: Yes.
Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.