The Detroit Red Wings haven’t been to the playoffs in nearly a decade. But that’s something that could change this upcoming season.
In an August 14 mailbag, The Athletic’s James Mirtle handed down his assessment on the Red Wings’ current situation. In said assessment, Mirtle declared that Detroit should have a realistic shot at the playoffs in 2025-26.
He stated:
“Their (Red Wings) biggest hope is a little more patience, as the kids start to hit their stride and some of the other contenders in the Atlantic Division age out. They should be a wild-card team this year, especially with their cap flexibility to work with in-season.”
There’s a lot to unpack in that statement. First, the Red Wings will continue to see their young stars continue to develop. Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond look like they’re the real deal. Seider has established himself as a legit top-pairing defenseman in the league, while Raymond could make a case for 100 points.
Second, the Wings could see other younger players come into their own. Specifically, Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson, and Marco Kasper could all see dramatic bumps in their performance this upcoming season.
Third, some of the contenders in the Atlantic Division could begin to fade out. We’ve already seen that with the Boston Bruins last season. The next candidate on the list will be the Tampa Bay Lightning. While the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers still have solid windows of contention, they might begin to fade within the next two to three years.
Such a situation could open up an opportunity for the Red Wings to slide into a playoff spot as soon as this season. But there’s more to that statement than just capitalizing on aging clubs.
Red Wings could be poised for major in-season move
As it stands, the Red Wings have a shade over $12 million in cap space. That’s nothing to sneeze at, especially when considering how strapped most contenders are heading into training camp.
That situation means the Red Wings could be in a prime position to make a big in-season splash. That splash depends on two factors.
To begin with, the Wings will need to be at least within striking distance of a playoff spot by Thanksgiving. If the Wings are more than five points or so away from a wild card berth, the Wings may just end up in a holding pattern.
Additionally, other teams’ position in the standings could dictate Detroit’s moves. For instance, teams like the Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, and New York Islanders are on the bubble. If any of these clubs have a disastrous opening to the season, they may sell off sooner rather than later.
That’s when the Red Wings could land a solid piece to complement the lineup. Also, teams like the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks could quickly become sellers as they eye a race to the bottom.
All told, the Red Wings have the piece and the cap space to make a huge in-season splash. But that will depend on how far the Red Wings are out of a playoff spot heading into the 2026 calendar year.