The start of the 2025-26 NHL season is still several months away, but now that most of the free agency dust has settled, fans are already gearing up for opening night.
Professional oddsmakers are preparing for the season as well. Point totals for all 32 NHL teams are now listed on DraftKings Sportsbook. Detroit's point total is listed at 84.5, which is tied for the second-lowest total in the Atlantic Division. This number is a bit surprising for many reasons.
Over the past four seasons, Detroit has posted regular season point totals of 74, 80, 91, and 86. With a point total of 84.5, oddsmakers are essentially expecting the Red Wings to be slightly worse this season than they were last season.
How impactful are Yzerman's offseason moves?
Oddsmakers don't seem to be sold on Steve Yzerman's offseason moves. A big free agent signing, something Red Wings fans were hoping for, would have likely increased Detroit's projected point total. Instead, Yzerman made several low-key moves to round out his roster.
The Red Wings didn't make any huge splashes in free agency, but they added depth to their forward group and - perhaps most notably - traded for veteran goaltender John Gibson. James van Riemsdyk brings a veteran presence and depth scoring, Mason Appleton can help out on a penalty kill in desperate need of improvements, and Gibson addresses Detroit's biggest need between the pipes.
Those aren't the flashiest moves, but they help. Rumors are swirling that Steve Yzerman could be exploring a trade for a top-six forward as well, so there could possibly be more transactions before the puck is dropped on the 2025-26 season.
Red Wings considered long shots for the 2025-26 Stanley Cup
It's not surprising to see the Florida Panthers with the best odds to win the 2025-26 Stanley Cup at +600. The back-to-back champs have re-tooled their roster, and have made it clear that the Eastern Conference runs through South Florida yet again this season.
The Red Wings are in the bottom-third of the NHL in terms of Stanley Cup odds. More specifically, Detroit sits 22nd on the list with odds of +7500 to win the 2025-26 Stanley Cup. Other teams near Detroit include the Predators (+6000), Canadiens (+6000), and Blue Jackets (+7500).
These odds are subject to change and can fluctuate throughout the offseason as roster changes continue to take place between now and the start of the season. If Yzerman does indeed pull the trigger on a trade for a top-six forward, it could improve both Detroit's point total and Stanley Cup odds.
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Odds update regularly and are subject to change