Detroit sports teams are experiencing a resurgence after a decade of struggles. The Pistons are back in the playoffs, the Tigers nearly reached the ALCS after ending a long drought, and the Lions are coming off a strong season following an NFC Championship appearance.
However, the Red Wings continue to struggle, missing the playoffs for a ninth consecutive year, a franchise record. Despite showing promise, similar to last season, a significant collapse in March derailed their 2024-25 season. They will finish with fewer points than the previous year, indicating a step back in their rebuilding process.
As players, coaches, and General Manager Steve Yzerman assess this disappointing season, a sense of pessimism is growing among fans. The concern is that this current Red Wings roster may have already reached its maximum potential.
Their performance has not been sufficient to even qualify for the playoffs, let alone contend for the Stanley Cup.
A core issue for Detroit is their struggle in developing drafted prospects, a crucial aspect of a draft-focused rebuild. Despite 50 draft picks in six years, only one player picked outside the first round played a significant role this season. Limited top-five picks during this period have also reduced their chances of acquiring a transformative superstar.
In the 2019-20 season, despite finishing with the league`s worst record and the best odds for the first overall pick, the Red Wings fell to fourth in the draft lottery. This resulted in drafting Lucas Raymond, while Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, and Tim Stutzle were selected ahead of him. While Raymond is a valuable young player, the Red Wings haven`t acquired a generational talent comparable to Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, or Nikita Kucherov during their playoff drought.
Detroit lacks true elite, superstar talent, typically acquired through high draft picks during a rebuild. Unfortunately, the Wings haven`t had that draft lottery luck.
While Detroit possesses a core group of players who performed well and should be part of the team`s future leadership, their production, including Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, and Raymond, falls short compared to core groups on contending teams. Raymond`s team-leading 75 points rank 28th in the league, DeBrincat`s 67 points are 48th, and Larkin`s 66 points are 54th.
Other rebuilding teams, like Ottawa and Montreal, have surpassed Detroit and reached the playoffs with their own young rosters. This raises questions about the Red Wings` roster construction and highlights potential missteps in their rebuilding process.
Yzerman has attempted to address team needs through free agency, acquiring veteran forwards to provide depth around younger players. However, these acquisitions have often failed to provide significant secondary scoring, contributing to the team`s stagnation.
J.T. Compher, Andrew Copp, and Vladimir Tarasenko, all over 30 with contracts and trade restrictions, underperformed this season. Moving on from these players, if desired, will be challenging for Yzerman.
The problems extend beyond the forward group.
When scoring declined, the defense became vulnerable. Detroit`s 5-on-5 goals allowed ranked 16th, and their penalty kill percentage was the league`s worst in this century. While Moritz Seider and rookie defensemen Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson played well, veterans Ben Chiarot, Erik Gustafsson, Justin Holl, and Jeff Petry anchor the blue line. With only Petry`s contract expiring, changing or upgrading the defensive group will be difficult.
Goaltending also presented issues. Cam Talbot, Alex Lyon, Ville Husso, and trade deadline addition Petr Mrazek all started games. Only Talbot had a save percentage above .900, and both he and Mrazek are under contract for next season, likely continuing to share goaltending duties.
The Red Wings are trapped in a cycle of trying to compete by supplementing a young core with veteran additions, but becoming stuck when this approach fails.
The pressing question is: what is the path forward?
This is a difficult question, fueling growing fan frustration.
The team is not poor enough to secure top draft picks, yet lacks the roster space or trade assets for substantial improvements.
The Red Wings are projected to have $22.2 million in cap space this offseason, but 16 of 23 roster players are already signed. Patrick Kane, a pending free agent who finished fourth in team scoring at age 36, could be a veteran worth re-signing.
Ultimately, the Red Wings are stuck in mediocrity, the least desirable position for any team. There is no clear direction forward, optimism is diminishing, management`s options are limited, and other rebuilding teams are progressing faster.
On a brighter note, at least the Lions, Tigers, and Pistons are competitive again.
Tristan Blackwood