The Detroit Red Wings have entered the Olympic break, sitting in third place in the jammed Atlantic Division with a record of 33-19-6 through 58 games played. With a seven-point cushion for the Red Wings between them and the closest non-playoff team, the Red Wings are in the best position to break their nine-year playoff drought.
The Red Wings posted a record of 8-4-3 in January, an overall strong month to continue to hold themselves in a playoff position. The end to January and the first two games in February left some room for doubt to creep in that the 2025-26 version of the Red Wings could find themselves on the outside looking in when the playoffs begin in April.
The Red Wings went 1-3-1 in the final five games prior to the break. The win was one of the Red Wings’ best of the season, defeating the Colorado Avalanche 2-0 in Denver, in what was an all-around team effort. The four losses raised warning signs: a lifeless 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, a 4-3 shootout loss against the Washington Capitals that required two goals scored with the goalie pulled, a 5-0 blowout at the hands of the Avalanche and a 4-1 defeat against the Utah Mammoth.
The first period concerns that have plagued the Red Wings all year remained in this five-game stretch, being outscored in the first period of these games 5-1 and being outshot a combined 41-33.
Two other areas of struggle were 5-on-5 scoring, which saw the Red Wings only score two goals at even-strength the past 5 games and the lack of success on the power play. The five games saw the Red Wings go 1/16, a staggering slump when looking at the firepower on the Red Wings’ top unit. Overall, the Red Wings’ power play still sits top 10 in the NHL at 23.1%, but with major struggles scoring at 5-on-5, this group needs to be the ones to lead the charge.
This Red Wings team could use an addition
It has become clear that the Red Wings need help. Rumors have been floated about the Wings attempting to upgrade at both the forward and defense position. Simon Edvinsson should return from injury after the Olympic break to help shore up the back end, but the Red Wings could still use another player, specifically a right-shot to provide more stability.
Jacob-Bernard Docker, Travis Hamonic and Erik Gustafsson have all rotated through the number-six defenseman spot to varying degrees of success. Axel Sandin-Pellikka is still only 20 years old and in his rookie season, so an addition could help take some of the pressure off the young defenseman.
Three options that could help the Red Wings on the back-end, Justin Faulk of the St.Louis Blues who comes with an extra year of term and two pending free agents from the Winnipeg Jets, Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley. General manager Steve Yzerman has been rumored to want players with more than just this season under, so Faulk could be the number one target.
The forward group is struggling to score, 83 of the Red Wings’ 174 goals have come from Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane, often the four forwards who play on the top power play unit.
An addition to this group to take some of the pressure off the team’s top group would be a very welcoming sight. Vincent Trocheck’s name has been floated around as the New York Rangers free-fall in the standings. The 32-year-old has a 12-team no-trade list, but comes with three more seasons of control after this one, bringing the Red Wings a valuable asset for multiple years. Trocheck is an eight-time, 20-goal scorer and has recorded 37 points in 56 career playoff games.
Another name on a team that finds themselves looking from the outside at the playoff picture is Michael Bunting of the Nashville Predators. A pending UFA at season’s end, Bunting has recorded 12 goals and 18 assists through 57 games played. The 30-year-old brings a level of grit to his game that the Red Wings lineup lacks at this point.
Outlook at the Red Wings’ schedule
Upon returning from the Olympic break, the Red Wings start on a three-game road trip, traveling to Ottawa, Carolina and Nashville before returning to Detroit for a homestand that consists of Vegas and Florida.
Twenty-two of the Red Wings’ 24 remaining games on the schedule will come against teams that currently have a record of .500 or better, posing a challenging final two months. 10 of the 24 games will be against Atlantic Division opponents, leaving the Red Wings in control of their own fate as they try to break their nine-year playoff drought.