The Detroit Red Wings' centennial season is heating up, with FanFest culminating on Sunday, Nov. 9 with a big game between two heated rivals. Wings fans know the Chicago Blackhawks well and 100 years' worth intense hockey between the two historic franchises.
So, it was fitting for FanFest to have occurred this week, which included "100 Years of Hockeytown: A Night at Fox Theatre" on Nov. 8. Memorable lore like the Russian 5, legendary goaltenders, that historic 25-year playoff run, Fight Night at the Joe, and Stories with Stanley highlighted the evening.
It was a great way to prime everyone for a meeting against a team that has been surprising people. The Blackhawks were one of the NHL's most dormant teams for years, but there isn't a team out there looking to spoil the Red Wings' FanFest celebrations more than Chicago.
Detroit Red Wings won't have it easy on Sunday vs. the Blackhawks
In case you didn't know, the Hawks are 7-5-3, with 17 points, and are coming off a shutout win over the Calgary Flames. They're ninth in the NHL with 48 goals scored and also ninth in goals allowed, with 39. Slowly but steadily, Chicago is turning back into the team that gave opponents so many headaches during the 2010s.
Connor Bedard (22 points and eight goals) is their new Patrick Kane, a player Red Wings fans are familiar with, while Frank Nazar (11 points and five goals) is looking like the next Jonathan Toews, and Artyom Levshunov (seven assists) might just start giving off Duncan Keith vibes before we know it. Then there's Spencer Knight (0.926 save percentage, 2.33 GAA), who's looking like both Corey Crawford and a legitimate Vezina Trophy candidate.
For the Red Wings, they need some motivation here. Put a dent into the Blackhawks' Renaissance while giving every single one of those fans who attended FanFest something to cheer about. Plus, coming off a two-game losing streak after scoring just one goal in six periods, you need to find a way to provide a spark.
Red Wings promote a goaltender to join the fray in Grand Rapids
Carter Gylander heard his number called after he started the season with the ECHL's Toledo Walleye. He'll get his chance to shine with the Grand Rapids Griffins, joining one of the AHL's best goaltending tandems in Sebastian Cossa and Michal Postava.
Gylander, drafted 191st overall in 2019, could factor in as organizational depth for the Red Wings, as Cossa and Postava won't be easy to upend in the goaltending hierarchy. He struggled across three starts in the AHL in 2024-25, with a 3.49 GAA and a 0.890 save percentage, so Gylander has his work cut out for him.
Gylander also saw 34 games with the Walleye, posting a 2.61 GAA, two shutouts, and a 0.907 save percentage. He put up a 2.78 GAA and a 0.895 save percentage across four games when the Red Wings assigned him to the Griffins on Nov. 8. It won't be long until we see how Gylander fits into the Griffins' goaltender room.