The Detroit Red Wings didn't get anywhere close to a playoff spot last year as they did during the 2023-24 season. It's become a point of frustration for Red Wings fans as they point towards general manager and franchise legend Steve Yzerman unable to build a playoff team. Even the players are letting their frustrations be known, with Dylan Larkin calling out the front office for not bringing in help at last season's trade deadline.
This offseason, Yzerman's biggest move was bringing in John Gibson to, hopefully, solve their goaltending woes. The team is celebrating its 100th season. and one player has high expectations out of this team.
Andrew Copp, who grew up near Detroit, revealed after practice this past Tuesday that the team has to make the playoffs this season.
"We have to make the playoffs, it's our goal and our focus," Copp said, h/t The Hockey News. "Anything short of that is going to be looked at as not good enough, and I don't think we can be fearful of admitting that. We need to look at our goal straight in the eye, and everything we do from now until April is to make the playoffs."
Andrew Copp issues playoff mandate for Red Wings ahead of 2025-26 season
The Red Wings have not made the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, where they were eliminated in five games by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. That was the 25th consecutive season that the Red Wings made the playoffs. And now, they are on a nine-year playoff drought.
Maybe, just maybe, Detroit can make their triumphant return in their centennial season. After all, this is the year to celebrate the Red Wings' long, successful history.
To make the playoffs, the Red Wings will need their impact players to continue to play well. Those players are Lucas Raymond, who led the team in points last season with 80, and Dylan Larkin, who make up the top forward line.
Then, there's defenseman Moritz Seider, who has been consistent points-wise, throughout his career. Finally, Seider will have some help defensively and won't have to singlehandedly stop the opposition.
Yzerman made the biggest move imaginable to fix their goaltending issue by acquiring Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks. Gibson had been on the trade block for years, but the team was unwilling to move him. Gibson isn't the goalie he used to be, as he had injury issues. Just last season, Gibson played just 29 games, where he recorded an 11-11-2 record, a .911 save percentage, and a 2.77 goals allowed average. The hope is that Gibson can be relatively healthy for the upcoming season and, hopefully, help hold down the fort in the crease.
Plus, the Red Wings will have to buy into Todd McLellan's coaching system. He didn't get the chance to fully acclimate everyone after being hired two months into last season to replace Derek Lalonde. With a full offseason at their disposal, the coach and players should be able to be on the same page.
Copp wants the Red Wings' 100th season to be memorable, and there could be no better way to do so than finally end their playoff drought and secure a spot to compete for the Stanley Cup.