It was a trying last two months for the Red Wings, and the result was, once again, no playoffs. And yeah, it’s okay to be angry about the Wings lack of stellar play as the 2024-25 season wound down. But that doesn’t mean the season was an absolute waste of time, even if it felt that way.
So, let’s look at a few positives, something I’ve been scratching and clawing my way into looking for since the Wings lost in the Stadium Series to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Below, I want to talk about one player whose scoring production nearly hit 40 goals, how a few important puzzle pieces developed, and one area of the game in which the Red Wings excelled.
We’re going to get a lot of negativity surrounding the Wings, considering the circumstances. But let’s not forget about what had gone right for this team since the puck dropped last October.
1 - Alex DeBrincat
Alex DeBrincat finished the season tied for second on the team with 70 points, but his 39 goals scored were absolutely phenomenal. Logging in a 16.0 shooting percentage, DeBrincat has become the go-to when the Wings need to get a goal on the board, and now that he’s got a couple of seasons in Hockeytown, expect more chemistry with his linemates heading into next season.
He also finished tied for first on the team with 13 power play goals alongside Dylan Larkin, and he snagged a solid four game-winning goals. He’s evolved into a player opponents must always account for when he’s got the puck, because he’s joining that elite group of players who can score at the drop of a hat.
Given his productivity this season, it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw DeBrincat snag 40-plus goals in 2025-26 and firmly entrench himself in as one of the NHL’s top 10 goal scorers.
2 - Core development
Yeah, I’ve griped that having a good core isn’t enough. But it’s still a prerequisite for having a successful hockey team. The Red Wings, fortunately, at least have that, with players like DeBrincat, Marco Kasper, Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, and Lucas Raymond leading the way.
Raymond is evolving into a Mikko Rantanen-type of player, one who can factor in as a great No. 2 guy on any team, even if I don’t see him as a Nathan MacKinnon type. Still, championship-caliber teams require someone like Raymond, who could easily threaten 90 points next year.
Seider has also built an identity for himself, becoming one of the most notorious three-zone players in the game who isn’t afraid to land a body check on anyone. Edvinsson came into his own and should make a jump next season while Larkin continues to have his moments. That said, there’s a lot to love about this core that isn’t finished growing yet.
3 - Power play
Elite special teams also equals elite championship-caliber teams, and the Red Wings power play is brimming with elitism when you look at their 27.00 success rate this season. No, the penalty kill is nowhere near where it needs to be, but at least we can say that the Wings are halfway there.
Since this team has quite a few of their core players locked in, don’t expect the power play to go anywhere but up, slowly raising its ceiling while this group becomes even more familiar with one another. It’s helped the Wings, at times, maintain their high-octane identity, even if it stagnated at even strength and 5-on-5 play.
Overall, I’m glad to see that the Wings have more than a few pieces together required of building a true championship-caliber team. They obviously have more work to do after missing the playoffs yet again, but they’re more than heading in the right direction.
