The Red Wings have done it. They completed their second-half collapse and extended their playoff drought to nine seasons. Wow, this is a familiar take, since it’s something I know all too well, have seen, and have unfortunately written about.
For context, I’m a big fan of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. Yeah, so I sympathize with Detroit fans more than you think. And it seemed like second-half collapses were a staple of the Kliff Kingsbury era, and it was something I saw from the Cardinals again this past season - even if they really weren’t that good just yet.
Ironically, the Cards and Wings share identical color schemes, except that the Wings wear the colors way, way better. At least until the Cardinals figure out that they can mix and match uniforms.
Anyway, back to hockey. For two years running, a lackluster second half of the season has done it for the Red Wings. Except this season, it’s worse, since they just let the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens lap them. Yeah, they’ve at least pulled ahead of the Buffalo Sabres and made things somewhat interesting toward the end there…for now, at least.
Red Wings can blame themselves and themselves only…
Stagnant scoring, streaky play, physical play only when they felt like it, simple mistakes, they all add up to an ugly ‘e’ resting against your name in the NHL standings. Hey, the Wings can blame themselves for what was a monumental collapse following a pair of seven-game winning streaks that tricked us all into thinking they were taking the next step.
No, this team needs to revert to the basics if they feel like ending this playoff drought next season. Head coach Todd McLellan needs to remind them that there are 82 games in a season and 60 minutes per game in regulation. That equals 4,920 minutes per season. So, that’s the number of minutes in which they need to put in a solid effort.
If they don’t, then I’ll be writing a similar article in April 2026. But for the sake of this great fanbase, Steve Yzerman, bring in one or two more assets that will get this group into the playoffs. They have talent. They have franchise cornerstones. They have a strong core. They have all the ingredients you can ask for if a long-term core is the endgame here.
Red Wings need a few more assets if they plan on making the 2026 playoffs
Yeah, they need solid, three-zone hockey players. But it would be great if they could bring someone in who can give them much-needed accountability. Accountability is the best gift one can grant this team, considering its circumstances. And without it, the Red Wings will be wandering without a sense of direction when the stakes rise.
This was an article that, two months ago, I never thought I’d write. It looked like the Red Wings were well on their way to busting through the 82-game finish line and into the NHL Playoffs. Instead, they played like a team that put it in cruise control during the latter half of the season. And it’s ending with the fans saying, “Same old Red Wings.”
Overall, we just spent a lot of time that we’ll never get back watching this team start, stop, sputter, and stall. So, Red Wings fans, you all deserved better than what you got from this disappointing club.