What tanked the Red Wings? Ultimately? You can point to so many reasons. For one, they only seem interested in winning consistently when one player shows up and plays a sound game. It wasn’t the only issue, since an injury to Andrew Copp didn’t help matters. Still, though, a lot more needs to happen for the Wings to go from winners for once to the perennial losers they’ve been for a while now.
While they’ve struggled to get anything going offensively, it’s still not the most of their concerns. Yeah, they struggle to create chances no matter how you look at it, and it’s a real downer. But as a young team with a brewing core, those issues in the offensive zone will work themselves out, perhaps as early as next season.
Still, concern rests defensively, given aging goaltenders and the fact that they look lost at times when they don’t have the puck. The netminding situation is also something that will resolve itself in the next few seasons, and once the Red Wings young defensemen continue to gain more experience, they won’t allow as many big plays.
Red Wings need to start playing more physical hockey starting now
It doesn’t happen to everyone, but physical play will define most playoff teams, and it ramps up in March and April. As for the Red Wings, they’re averaging just 19.2 hits per game, and that’s not helping, regardless of the playing style that can get them into contention should it occur again in March 2026.
Yeah, bringing in another scorer, preferably a young one willing to play in Hockeytown for more than a few years would be great. In fact, you can call that the easy part. Who wouldn’t want to play for an Original Six team with the storied history that the Red Wings boast?
Still, they need hitters, guys who can punish opponents with body checks and shut down plays. They do have a sound youngster in Elmer Soderblom, but he’s not enough and he’s got a lot to learn in the NHL. Plus, getting a seasoned veteran on those lower lines to deliver consistent body checks, should be a major priority this summer.
Red Wings don’t need to spend much to get a high-impact hitter
Pat Maroon was the first player who came to mind, but he’s hanging up the skates in a couple of weeks. Still, go out and get a Maroon-like player, Steve Yzerman. Your team needs one. Or, to be frank, I’d go out and get a second one, especially if they can serve the team winning faceoffs in the defensive zone.
We also can’t ignore the penalty kill, which is an ugly 69.36 and hasn’t improved an iota all season. While it’s unlikely a sheer hitter will do much when the Wings are at 4-on-5, inserting a three-zone player who can shut down opposing man advantages, preferably another veteran, would probably swap some of what were L’s this season into W’s.
Lack of physical play, consistency, and a bad penalty kill unit is the quickest way to miss the playoffs for a ninth straight season. With such a young core and a solid mix of veterans, the Red Wings aren’t bad. But some seriously bad statistics outlined above will tank any team’s postseason hopes.