The Detroit Red Wings may not be in the playoffs, but that doesn't mean lessons can't be learned from other matchups.
The Minnesota Wild are showing they're not the Wild of old. The Montreal Canadiens' extra scoring from veterans and younger players gives them wave upon wave of depth. The biggest takeaway for the Red Wings, however, comes from the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes series.
To say it was a beatdown is the understatement of the century. Despite stellar goaltending, the Senators completely squandered their first round opportunity against a goaltender with a .874 save percentage. Not once in the entire series did Ottawa hold a lead. Brady Tkachuk was a complete non factor, unable to produce a single point in four games. Tim Stutzle, the team's first line center, had just a single goal in the entire series.
The Senators were outplayed, outmatched and outmaneuvered every time they were on the ice. They finished an underwhelming four game series booed off the ice by their own fans on home ice. (This might sound familiar, though it's safe to say not holding a lead once in the playoffs is far worse).
It makes you wonder how the Red Wings would have fared -- and what the Red Wings can learn from this series.
Star power isn't everything in the playoffs
Sometimes, an unlikely hero manifests himself in the playoffs. In the case of the 2023 Vegas Golden Knights, Jonathan Marchessault became the star, putting up a jaw-dropping 25 points in 23 games and securing the Conn Smythe Trophy. While Marchessault has always been a great contributor, he's never put up numbers like that before.
Taylor Hall, who hasn't been a star player in quite some time, leads all NHLers in playoff scoring with seven points in four games. He was a menace for the Hurricanes against Ottawa, picking apart their defense with an almost effortless flair. Hall is an example of a key depth contributor. WIthout him, the Hurricanes may very well still be playing in the first round.
In the playoffs, depth is just as important as star power. When the big boys aren't contributing, the next wave steps up. Without that, the team becomes the Senators -- a top-heavy club that collapses when the stars don't step up to the plate. The biggest lesson the Red Wings need to take away from this is that their depth needs work to be a consistent playoff threat.
Grit don't quit
"Grit" and "intangibles" are buzz words often associated with successful playoff teams. With that said, this more than rings true for this first round series. The Hurricanes have a clear identity. They're capable of rallying when it matters and sticking to their system. They stand up for their players and make sure to not let dirty hits from opposing teams fly. Take a look at the revenge enacted on Ridley Grieg after sucker punching Sean Walker:
How is Grieg still in the game? #GoSensGo #SoundTheSiren pic.twitter.com/MaBWlAT3Vj
April 25, 2026The Red Wings don't have a consistent identity, and, by the looks of it, neither do the Senators. Had they made the playoffs, they likely would've suffered the same (if not worse) fate in the first round. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, clearly have what it takes to be a playoff contender. If the Red Wings want their postseason to matter, they need to work on their identity and culture.
If they fail to accomplish that, they'll wind up just like the Senators: embarrassed in the first round of the playoffs.
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