If you missed last week's recap, feel free to check it out.
Reflection, recognition, and rumors dominated Hockeytown this week. We look at how the National Hockey League (NHL) Quarter-Century team gets one right and one wrong, consider prospects and potential moves, and take a look back in time.
We've got it all in one place here for you to review.
Recap of Detroit Red Wings content from this week
Player spotlights
Marco Kasper proves the Wings got it right
Kasper’s first full season showed grit, growth, and two-way awareness that should make him a long-term piece of the core.
Dylan Larkin: good numbers, hollow ending
The captain’s stats look solid, but some fans were left unfulfilled. A look at why Larkin’s performance didn’t move the needle when it mattered most.
Patrick Kane still has power play punch
Though no longer in his prime, Kane delivered where Detroit needed him most—quarterbacking one of the league’s more efficient power plays.
Big name, bigger letdown
With just 33 points and no impact at even strength, Vladimir Tarasenko earns an "F" for his 2024–25 season and may be done in Detroit.
The risk for Russian Star Buchelnikov may be worth the reward
Dmitri Buchelnikov exploded for 54 points in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) this season and nearly broke the under-22 scoring record. As the most purely skilled prospect in Detroit’s system, his eventual arrival in Michigan could transform the team’s offensive ceiling, if the Wings can get him here.
Missed any of the 2025 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Men's World Championship?
We've got you covered with an update on the Detroit Red Wings players and one prospect in attendance at the summer tournament.
IIHF World Championship woes for Moritz Seider & Marco Kasper
Both players had rough outings at the IIHF Men's World Championship, including blowout losses and little to show for their efforts on the global stage. In fairness to both players, one faced Team Canada, the other faced Team Switzerland, which is a surprising wagon in this tournament.
Roster decisions & speculation
Two untouchables: Alex DeBrincat & Elmer Söderblom
They’re not going anywhere. One brings star-level grit and offense, the other towers over opponents with sneaky hands and upside.
Brad Marchand is not coming to Detroit
Yes, he’s aging well, but the Wings are still too far from contention to lure Marchand away from Boston or another Cup run.
Is Sam Bennett the next move for the Wings?
Should Detroit Red Wings Yzerman take a swing at an aggressive veteran like Bennett? A compelling case is made, but cost and fit may not align with Detroit’s steady rebuild.
3 trade partners for pick No. 13
A practical dive into who might want Detroit’s first-rounder and what they’d offer in return, including Toronto, St. Louis, and a desperate Colorado.
Another day, another Marco
Marco Rossi is emerging as a scoring center in Minnesota. Could he be a trade target to finally fill Detroit’s middle-six void?
Season grades & performance
How the back half fared
An honest assessment of the blue line and goalies from the 2024–25 season: Seider shined, but many players were underwhelming.
History & legacy
The Detroit Red Wings brought the NHL to Europe
In 1938, the Red Wings helped take the NHL overseas. A look back at staged fights, packed crowds, and cultural outreach in Europe.
Ken Holland still has something to prove
The Red Wings’ former general manager is chasing one more Cup with the Kings, adding a competitive wrinkle to his legacy and Detroit’s past.
Ninety-nine years of Red Wings hockey
From Windsor home games and stalled stadium builds to franchise saves and rebrands, this is the full-circle story of Detroit’s beginnings.
The wild story behind the Red Wings joining the NHL
A deeper dive into the car barons, military leagues, and fast-moving business deals that launched Detroit’s hockey legacy in 1926.
Pavel Datsyuk rightfully joins the Quarter-Century Team
A nod to one of the league’s most creative and complete players. Datsyuk gets his flowers as a modern legend.
But former Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg gets snubbed
Zetterberg was left off the NHL’s Quarter-Century Team. It’s a baffling omission for a player who defined playoff leadership and consistency.