Red Wings playoff drought could end in emotional final ride

There are two 'last rides' for the Detroit Red Wings in 2025-26. The first is obvious; The 100th-year anniversary marks the final season in the team's first century of existence. Then, there's the fact we're looking at the final 82-game schedule as the 2026-27 season will give us an 84-game slate.

Meanwhile, the Wings are still battling to end their infamous, nine-season playoff drought, and one that, if you go back a single decade, the fanbase never thought it'd face. It's led to quite a decadence in team history, even if the Wings have at least clawed back into relevancy.

Still, it's the Wings last chance to bust through to the postseason in Century No. 1, a century that had seen far more ups than downs, especially in the 25 seasons before this drought began when you could call the Wings a dynasty. Now, they're looking to bring that dynasty back, and going out with the arrow pointing north is the way and the aim.

Detroit Red Wings centennial season aligns with the last 82-game schedule amidst playoff drought

Right now, I'm putting the Wings behind the eight-ball. One reason is that they're, on paper, in the Atlantic Division's bottom four. The Florida Panthers aren't missing a beat, nor are the Tampa Bay Lightning, despite their first-round exit last year.

The Toronto Maple Leafs may be without Mitch Marner, but they're also not someone I'd count out. If Matthew Knies proves he can keep the Core Four afloat, the Leafs will be every bit as dangerous in the regular season as they were last year.

Then, we got the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, two playoff teams from the previous season. While Ottawa may be a mixed bag, Montreal only got better. But since the Senators showed last season they were more than capable of making a jump, I'm giving them the edge over Detroit.

Only the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres look like they're behind the Wings, but even they have their strengths. Still, with all of that said, on paper, and with all things being equal, the Wings will finish their centennial season in fifth place in the Atlantic at best.

The Red Wings could surprise this season, but there's no reason to believe right now

This time last year, nobody thought the Canadiens would amount to much and they fooled everyone. So, maybe the same thing will be true for the Wings. But right now, they're not giving me a reason.

They have a top six with holes in it, plus a defensive rotation that would still require them to play either Erik Gustafsson or Justin Holl at least in a timeshare. So you can see why I'm pessimistic here.

But, the Wings also know what the centennial season means to the organization and fans. And because it's coinciding with the last 82-game schedule we'll see, at least for a while, maybe they'll carry a little more motivation heading into the campaign.