The difference between bubble teams and contenders is depth -- and depth is where the Detroit Red Wings fall short. Contenders like the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche overwhelm their opposition with multiple lines of scoring. Teams like the Florida Panthers employ physicality on every line to wear out the other team, opening scoring lanes in the process.
The Detroit Red Wings have neither of these things.
As it stands, the bottom-six is nothing short of anemic. The drop-off of efficiency from the first and second lines are marginal at best, while the drop-off from the second line to the third is enormous. To be fair, it's hard to come close to Alex DeBrincat, who leads the Red Wings in both goals and points.
But, as it stands right now, the bottom-six is completely rudderless. Nothing about them suggests any sort of cohesive identity. The line combinations are abysmal. Few, if any of the players, have any sort of chemistry with one another. Multiple players have gone without scoring or producing points in 10 games or more.
No matter how this season ends, the Red Wings cannot enter next season with the same bottom-six they have this year.
Why the bottom-six isn't working
When uninjured, the Red Wings' bottom six typically takes this form:
LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
David Perron | Marco Kasper | James van Riemsdyk |
Michael Rasmussen | J.T. Compher | Mason Appleton |
On paper, this bottom-six isn't bad by any means. Marco Kasper and David Perron's physicality, combined with James van Riemsdyk's net-front presence, should, hypothetically, lead to more goals. The defensive efforts of Michael Rasmussen, J.T. Compher and Mason Appleton is meant to serve as a shutdown line. Yet, despite this, neither line seems capable of performing its assignment.
Instead, the team is left with the following:
â—¦ David Perron: 0 points in 7 games with the Red Wings
â—¦ Marco Kasper: 17 points in 73 games (2 points in last 10)
â—¦ James van Riemsdyk: 15 goals, 29 points
â—¦ Michael Rasmussen: 14 points in 61 games (0 points since January 5)
â—¦ J.T. Compher: 10 goals, 24 points in 74 games
â—¦ Mason Appleton: 6 goals, 14 points in 64 games (1 goal in 2026)
To say this team needs a revamped bottom-six is the understatement of the century. Their leading scorer, James van Riemsdyk, is 36 years old. The average age of the bottom-six is 30 -- a number skewed by Marco Kasper (21). The depth is slow, passive and plays without any urgency. Part of this can be attributed to the age of players like van Riemsdyk and Perron, but, sooner or later, something has to give.
Multitude of solutions available for Red Wings
Fortunately, this is an extremely solvable problem. Unlike top-six scoring, there are a vast array of solutions that can come for the bottom-six. The Red Wings already have a few players they can promote to the bottom-six from the Grand Rapids Griffins. Carter Mazur, whose play style serves a familiar role in Detroit, is a perfect candidate for a bottom-six role next season. Other players like Dominik Shine have shown their stuff at the bottom-six level, as well.
Should the Red Wings seek an alternate solution, they can always visit the free agency market. While the free agents this season aren't particularly impressive, a few names like Viktor Arvidsson and Michael Bunting would be ideal fits to generate depth scoring for Detroit. If they want a more familiar face, they can even look to Anthony Mantha from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Mantha is having the best season of his career. He's got 29 goals and 28 assists for 57 points in 74 games. He's got just what it takes to fill a middle-six role for the Red Wings and could be a plug-and-play on the second power play unit, as well. He adds depth scoring and could be just the catalyst someone like Marco Kasper needs to pick up after a tough season.
Whether the Red Wings go with Mantha or another player is anyone's guess. But, no matter who they choose, they cannot afford to run with the same bottom-six they have this season in 2026-27.