The Red Wings aren’t all-in enough, and it could cost them a playoff spot
The Detroit Red Wings have been plugging along in a rebuild for nearly 10 years. For the last two seasons the playoffs have seemed within reach; ultimately, poor stretches in March derailed those hopes. This year seemed to be different, but old habits have reared their ugly head.
To be fair, the Red Wings have won two straight games – including Thursday night’s clash with the division rival Montreal Canadiens. Despite the back-to-back wins, the Red Wings are still clinging to the the second Wildcard seed and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The New York Islanders (though in the Metropolitan Division) are nipping at their heels just one point behind, and the Ottawa Senators trail by just five points with a game in hand.
Yes, the Red Wings are still in a rebuild of sorts, but would missing out on yet another playoff berth be the final straw for GM Steve Yzerman?
To be clear, this is not to suggest that Yzerman is on the hot seat. Though nothing ever leaks out of Detroit, there has been no indication Yzerman or his staff are on thin ice. Though this may not be the case, questions should start being asked in Detroit if they miss the playoffs yet again.
In all fairness, the Red Wings have run into major injury issues in recent weeks. Captain Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp (who returned on Thursday) were both sidelined with injuries; collectively, the duo make up the Red Wings’ top two pivots, when healthy. Any team who loses their top two centers will be in a world of trouble – but were the Red Wings adequately prepared?
The Red Wings weren’t one of the teams rumored to be on St. Louis Blues’ center Robert Thomas, though, as previously mentioned, anything Detroit-related is always kept tight to the vest. But assuming that the Red Wings were not in the Thomas sweepstakes as the rumor mill would suggest, it is a major miss and failure by Yzerman.
Speaking with one executive whose team had trade discussions with Yzerman around the deadline, the Red Wings were not willing to move any of their top prospects in center Nate Danielson and goaltenders Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine in any prospective trade. I am admittedly not a prospect guy, so take this with a grain of salt, but is there really no scenario where any of the aforementioned prospects could’ve been worthwhile to move?
The price set on Thomas was astronomical; speaking with one GM, it was close to the equivalent of four-first round picks. No team ultimately stepped up to pay the piper for Thomas, but if any team could’ve (and arguably should’ve) it was the Red Wings. Yes, Blues GM Doug Armstrong’s price could’ve been four high-end pieces to start, but it is hard to believe he wouldn’t have budged had Yzerman presented him a package including a first-round pick, Danielson and one of Augustine and Cossa.
Thomas is exactly what the Red Wings need in the present and future. Larkin is no spring chicken and will turn 30 this summer; adding a 26-year old Thomas to be the immediate second-line center and in-house succession plan as the top pivot would’ve been ideal. Yes, Danielson could be that in the future, but that is still very much in question – both if and when. Marco Kasper seems more like a winger at this point, while veterans Copp and J.T. Compher are ideally bottom-six wingers on a Stanley Cup contending team.
There is an inherent risk that comes with moving off of prospects, but especially when it comes to Augustine, is the risk not worth taking? Cossa will surely be a full-time NHLer next season behind John Gibson and seems like a possible franchise goaltender; is it necessary to hoard Augustine in the minors for the next several seasons when your goaltending scenario is already looking good?
The case can be made that the iron is not yet hot enough to strike for the Red Wings, but at what point is it? Larkin, as previously mentioned, is already on the back-nine of his prime years, while forward Alex DeBrincat is also approaching 30. Yzerman has added veteran forwards Copp, Compher, Patrick Kane and David Perron to his lineup; you would think this was in hopes of contending for a Stanley Cup sooner rather than later.
In Yzerman’s defense, he did make a significant acquisition at the deadline by landing defenseman Justin Faulk from the Blues at the 11th hour. But was this a last second deal to make an addition so as to not upset his captain? As we know, Larkin was not exactly thrilled when Yzerman stood pat at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. This is not to say Faulk is an addition to sneeze at (he has a goal and an assist in six games with the Red Wings) but you do wonder if this was the caliber of player Detroit truly needed rather than one that was perhaps available at a reduced price of acquisition.
The fate of the Red Wings does not hinge on a playoff berth this spring, but it is a fair litmus test to see where things are at. Patience is certainly a virtue, but in the case of Yzerman, it could become a law of diminishing returns.
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