As someone who specializes in the power play, Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Alex Tanguay knows that if you live solely by the production of the power play, eventually you will die due to the lack of production from the power play.

“Just because we’ve had success last year, that isn’t guaranteeing us having success this year,” Tanguay said.

Detroit was the NHL’s No. 4 power play last season, clicking at 27.0%. Since the NHL first began tracking power-play stats in 1977-78, that’s the best single-season performance ever turned in by the franchise.

The Red Wings have 9 power-play goals in 5 games!🥶 pic.twitter.com/Hg6bFK94iJ

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 21, 2023

As good as it was, no one can count on such dominance from the unit again this season.

“Well, we’re going to be making an adjustment, because there’s no two years that are the same,” Tanguay said.

The worrisome element for the Red Wings is that when they were operating even-steven with the opposition in terms of personnel on the ice, something odd was happening.

Five-on-five, the Red Wings couldn’t score.

Detroit wound up 27th overall in the league with 143 five-on-five goals.

If the power-play productivity were to suddenly go south, things could really go off the rails for this team.

There is a bit of good news inside those numbers. Following the late-December coaching change from Derek Lalonde to Todd McLellan, the Wings actually showed an uptick in offense when playing at even strength.

Under Lalonde, the Wings were 31st in the NHL in five-on-five goals with 54. They jumped up to 23rd overall under McLellan, scoring 89 times when playing five-on-five.

Red Wings Will Still Count On Power Play

The Wings know they need to get more goals this season. Where will those goals come from? Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman talked about there being growth in that regard from within.

“I think at the bottom of our lineup, I expect to get a little bit more production, which will help us five-on-five,” Yzerman said.

As much as they may not be able to match last season’s special performance on special teams, the Wings still anticipate that their power play can continue to drive the bus for the offense.

“I don’t see why we’re not going to be successful (on the power play),” Tanguay said. “We’re going to get our guys organized here in the next little bit.”

Top 14 Red Wings players in Power Play Points. #lgrw #RedWings pic.twitter.com/kEZbGWxUQa

— Marnzey (@marnzey) April 29, 2025

Alex DeBrincat (13), Dylan Larkin (13), and Kane (12) all hit double digits in power-play goals. Lucas Raymond collected 37 points on the power play, while Moritz Seider contributed 24 points.

To this group, they’re adding net-front presence James van Riemsdyk, author of 94 power-play goals during his NHL career.

“You know there’s talent,” Tanguay said. “Patrick Kane has been successful over the years on the power play.”

Now it’s about putting in the work, smoothing out the rough edges, and ramping up the performance level to where they are once again an elite unit.

“We have to be prepared,” Tanguay said. “There’ll be some work that needs to be done before we get there.”