Month: July 2026

The AP gives the Wings a failing grade for free agency performance (thus far)

The Associated Press’s Stephen Whyno and John Wawrow issued a list of free agency “winners” and “losers” today, and the pair don’t believe that the Red Wings have been able to cobble together anything but a failing grade:

DETROIT RED WINGS: Detroit has not made the playoffs since 2016, now the NHL’s longest drought. And there is lingering uncertainty with captain Dylan Larkin wanting out. The Red Wings’ muddled path forward was evident Wednesday with the signing of Viktor Arvidsson and trade pickup of Keegan Kolesar representing their most notable additions. GM Steve Yzerman has the leverage of time in waiting for the best offer for Larkin. And yet the situation has the potential of becoming a bigger distraction and handcuffing Yzerman from building the roster further.

Continued; an “incomplete” is not an automatic “F” in my book, and Patrick Kane’s situation remains unresolved as well.

Detroit’s media corps highlights comments made by new Red Wings forward Viktor Arvidsson

Updated at 4:48 PM: New Red Wings forward Viktor Arvidsson met with the Red Wings’ media corps today, and he spoke with the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan about joining a historically Swedish-tinged team…

“For me it’s really exciting,” Arvidsson said Thursday on a Zoom call with Detroit media. “Growing up and watching the Red Wings and Avalanche go at it, and all those players that I grew up watching like (Peter) Forsberg, (Henrik) Zetterberg and (Pavel) Datsyuk, and (Steve) Yzerman, and Kris Draper, all those guys. Then talking to Drapes last night, I was almost like ‘I played as you on video games’. It’s pretty surreal if you think about it.”

Arvidsson, 33, signed a two-year contract worth $10 million ($5 million annual average value) Wednesday, filling a Wings need for offense. Arvidsson had somewhat of a comeback last season in Boston, scoring 25 goals (with 29 assists), and playing a relentless brand of hockey he’s known for.

Facing the Wings in divisional games last season, Arvidsson felt the Wings were close to a playoff team.

“I think so,” Arvidsson said. “This year the division and wild card were so tight, but it’s a great team, a great defense core and a lot of speed and skill up front. You need to mesh that together and be more consistent. That’s what this league is all about, consistency, and if you can do that night in and night out, and don’t drop too much.”

Arvidsson discussed his relationship with Wings coach Todd McLellan, for whom Arvidsson played in LA…

Continue reading Detroit’s media corps highlights comments made by new Red Wings forward Viktor Arvidsson

Video: New Red Wings winger Keegan Kolesar’s introductory press conference

Here’s newly-acquired Red Wings forward Keegan Kolesar meeting with the Detroit Red Wings’ media corps:

Video: New Red Wings forward Viktor Arvidsson’s introductory press conference

Red Wings free agent signing Viktor Arvidsson spoke with the Detroit media corps today, one day after signing a 2-year, $10 million contract with the Wings:

Update:

Videos: JP Hurlbert and Dan Cleary speak on the final day of the Red Wings’ Summer Development Camp

The Detroit Red Wings’ prospects are currently returning home after the Red Wings’ 4-day Summer Development Camp ended this morning.

As such, the Red Wings posted a short interview with 2026 1st round draft pick JP Hurlbert…

But Daniel Cleary, who works actively as the director of player development, spoke for almost 14 minutes:

Tweet of note: Carter Bear, ‘mic’ed up’

The Red Wings’ social media team “mic’ed up” Carter Bear, and this morning, they posted a 2:51 clip of Bear on the ice with his fellow Summer Development Camp participants:

A set of early Wings summer grades from DHN’s Allen

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen issues Red Wings grades in an assortment of categories this morning, and some grades are better than others:

Handling Larkin Situation

Essentially, the Red Wings are in the same place they were at when Dylan Larkinā€™s agent, Pat Brisson, informed the Red Wings his client would like to be traded.

Larkin has a no-trade clause and there are conflicting reports about how many teams he is willing to accept as a final destination.

What we know: The Florida Panthers have no interest in giving up young center Anton Lundell, plus they donā€™t have other desirable assets they are willing to move. They are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. They have no urgency to deal for Larkin. A Minnesota Wild source tells us that they donā€™t believe they have the assets to make a Larkin deal. (One report said the Red Wings would take Matthew Boldy in a Larkin deal, but the Wild are not interested). Thereā€™s no trade fit with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Continue reading A set of early Wings summer grades from DHN’s Allen

Tweet of note: ‘on the ice’ with the Red Wings’ summer development campers

The coverage of this year’s Summer Development Camp has just been so-so, but the Red Wings themselves are still pumping out content. This morning, they posted a 1:12 clip of very literal on-ice footage from this week’s activities:

Red Wings, rest of the NHL are waiting on Patrick Kane’s free agency decision

The Athletic’s Harman Dayal examines the best unrestricted free agents remaining on the marketplace. He has this to say about Patrick Kane, who has pluses and minuses, but still brings star power:

Patrick Kane

Kane will turn 38 in November, but he still racks up points and provides legitimate secondary offense. The iconic American scored 57 points in 67 games, which translates to a 70-point pace prorated over 82 games. Heā€™s still a prolific producer at both even strength ā€” his 2.03 points per hour at five-on-five ranked second best among Detroit Red Wings forwards ā€” and on a teamā€™s first-unit power play due to his vision, hands and creativity.

Thereā€™s a decent chance his even-strength production will taper off a bit next season; his line scored on 12.1 percent of its shots at five-on-five, which is unlikely to repeat itself. Heā€™s also a drag defensively, which needs to be factored in. He still has plenty of game left to help a team offensively, however, provided the lineup and power-play fit are right.

Continued; again, Patrick Kane’s agent, Pat Brisson, happens to be Dylan Larkin’s agent, which has me assuming that Kane will sign elsewhere.

That being said, he’s had a positive impact upon the Wings’ young players in leading by example both during games and especially during practices (Kane is a “rink rat” for sure, and his preparation skills were tremendous).

The Wings are a better team for having had Kane on their roster, and they would be a better team if he re-signed.

‘Next summer’s unrestricted free agent’ class could include DeBrincat and Gibson

Bleacher Report’s Joe Yerdon examines 10 notable players who might become unrestricted free agents at this time next summer, and two of his more prominent players are Red Wings players. Yerdon includes both 41-goal-scorer Alex DeBrincat…

Alex DeBrincat, Detroit Red Wings

While a few of the players we’re discussing here very likely won’t make it to free agency, we can’t really say that about Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat.

The seemingly awkward spot the Red Wings are in with Dylan Larkin’s trade request comes at a tough time with DeBrincat entering a contract season. It would be difficult for the Michigan native DeBrincat to commit to staying in Detroit if their leader and top player goes elsewhere. That is, of course, if DeBrincat stays in Detroit himself.

DeBrincat’s ability to score goals would be in high demand on the open market as well as his ability to contribute to the power play. At 29 years old, he’d be in prime position to cash in well and after seeing other players around that age already score big contracts, it wouldn’t be any different for him. After scoring 41 goals this season, another 40-goal season would make him one of the jewels on the free agent market next summer.

And Yerdon notes that goaltender John Gibson will be a free agent next summer, too:

Continue reading ‘Next summer’s unrestricted free agent’ class could include DeBrincat and Gibson