{"id":498115,"date":"2026-03-11T12:47:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T12:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/498115\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T12:47:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T12:47:28","slug":"how-have-the-red-wings-veterans-performed-this-season-the-hockey-writers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/498115\/","title":{"rendered":"How Have the Red Wings\u2019 Veterans Performed This Season? – The Hockey Writers –"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Red Wings are a team with great historical roots that are up-and-coming in the league right now. In a way, that describes the roster as well with 14 of the 24 players to suit up for them being at least 35 years old or being 25 and under. There\u2019s a deep history involved, Patrick Kane, James van Riemsdyk<\/a> and Travis Hamonic all combine for over 3300 total games played in the NHL. However, there is also a ton of youth and energy in the lineup as well.<\/p>\n

Related: 4 Red Wings Players Who Need to Step Up to Break Playoff Drought<\/a><\/p>\n

In this two-part article, we\u2019re going to take turns looking at what Detroit\u2019s most experienced veterans have brought to the team this season and then next time we\u2019ll look at what their youngest, brightest-eyed players have contributed.<\/p>\n

\"CamCam Talbot, Detroit Red Wings (Amy Irvin<\/a> \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

Detroit has dressed four players aged 35 or older so far in the 2025-26 season, so let\u2019s take a look at how they\u2019ve performed and how important they are for the team\u2019s playoff chase.<\/p>\n

Cam Talbot \u2013 37 Years Old<\/p>\n

Cam Talbot has played 561 career games to this point, good enough for sixth among active goaltenders. In fact, he\u2019s just one spot ahead of teammate John Gibson who has 548 games. Talbot was earning a pretty even deployment<\/a> with Gibson early this season, but when Gibson\u2019s play took off in December, Talbot has been left with a more traditional backup deployment. You can call him a 1B or a backup, whatever you want, but if the playoffs began today, Gibson would be in the crease for every game.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say Talbot isn\u2019t an option, as he has come in clutch as a reliever a few times, such as two games in just the past week or so where he played only the third period against Nashville and New Jersey when Gibson couldn\u2019t complete those games. Talbot\u2019s save percentage of .891% isn\u2019t excellent, but ranks 46th in the league (min. 10 gp) which is roughly average for a backup. Detroit has a chance to win whenever Talbot is in the crease, though they haven\u2019t been able to rely on him stealing games frequently. Not bad for a backup.<\/p>\n

Patrick Kane \u2013 37 Years Old<\/p>\n

Patrick Kane\u2019s career and resume speak for themselves, but he has had a really nice piece of his career <\/a>in Hockey Town. He has scored at a 68-point pace (over 82 games) in parts of three seasons now for Detroit, making him one of their most consistently productive forwards. Kane\u2019s chemistry with Alex DeBrincat is phenomenal, and he has been a huge part of making Detroit\u2019s second line genuinely dangerous.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"PatrickDetroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane celebrates after he gets his 1375th point in the second period against the Washington Capitals (Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

So far this year, Kane has 38 points in 52 games, which ranks fifth on the team, and he added 13 of those points on the power play where he has been a dynamic playmaking presence regardless of all the miles. Kane was shooting just 7.4% headed into last night\u2019s game against the Florida Panthers so he\u2019s probably owed a couple of goals considering he\u2019s a 11.5% shooter over the course of his 1353-game career. Kane\u2019s continued greatness means a ton for Detroit\u2019s playoff chase and possible playoff run, both on and off the ice. <\/p>\n

James van Riemsdyk \u2013 36 Years Old<\/p>\n

James van Riemsdyk\u2019s (JVR) season has been really solid, with his 15 goals and 27 points rankings fourth and eighth on the Red Wings respectively. JVR was an affordable free agency add <\/a>who looked destined to toil as an extra forward at the bottom of the lineup given all the young talent that made the opening night lineup.<\/p>\n

JVR missed the first weeks of the season but hadn\u2019t missed a beat the moment he arrived. He has been a reliable winger in the bottom half of the lineup, and one of the team\u2019s most reliable goal scorers in a season where they\u2019ve been desperate for anyone who can put the puck in the net. At a cap hit of $1M, JVR\u2019s signing was an absolute win for Detroit this season.<\/p>\n

Travis Hamonic \u2013 35 Years Old<\/p>\n

Travis Hamonic has had a rough season, and isn\u2019t currently in Detroit\u2019s lineup. Out of all Red Wings players who have dressed for at least 10 games this season, Hamonic has the lowest Corsi For Percentage, Shots For Percentage, and Expected Goals For Percentage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Granted, he does have the second lowest offensive zone start rate on the team, but the player who starts the fewest shifts in the offensive zone is 22-year-old Simon Edvinsson who has had a largely successful season in brutally difficult minutes. Hamonic hasn\u2019t played for Detroit since February 4 because Jacob Bernard-Docker and Axel Sandin Pellikka<\/a> have both outplayed him, and with Justin Faulk\u2019s addition to the lineup, I don\u2019t expect to see Hamonic in the Winged Wheel again this season.<\/p>\n

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