NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika posted an updated, abbreviated preseason preview of the Detroit Red Wings ahead of the 2026-2027 season.
Cotsonika manages to both address the Dylan Larkin situation, the Shawn Horcoff situation, and Cotsonika still finds enough Red Wings-related information to produce a good, comprehensive preview:
How they make the playoffs
If the Red Wings are in position to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs again, they must close the deal. Each of the past three seasons, they have faded down the stretch. Last season, they were tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for first in the Eastern Conference and had a 12-point playoff cushion Jan. 24, then finished 9-15-5. From Jan. 25 through the end of the season, they ranked 30th in goals per game (2.55) and blew multiple third-period leads. Coach Todd McLellan said mental toughness was an issue, but it’s fair to wonder if they have been built to succeed when the hockey gets harder. Detroit ranked 30th in 5-on-5 goals (142) and 29th in hits (1,480) last season.
Most intriguing addition
The easy answer is forward Viktor Arvidsson, who should help offset the loss of forward Patrick Kane and boost 5-on-5 scoring. Arvidsson, who signed a two-year, $10 million contract July 1, had 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 69 games for the Boston Bruins last season, including 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) at even strength. Kane, who signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 23, had 57 points (16 goals, 41 assists) in 67 games for the Red Wings last season, including 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) at even strength. But don’t forget forward Keegan Kolesar, who should make Detroit more physical and help establish the forecheck. Kolesar, acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights on July 1, had 270 hits last season, seventh in the NHL, and has 1,416 hits since 2020-21, fourth in the League in that span.
Biggest potential surprise
Forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard made the Red Wings roster out of training camp last season, but the No. 15 pick of the 2024 NHL Draft was sent to Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League after he had one assist in nine games. He had no points in five games during two NHL stints late in the season. But he had 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists) in 60 games for Grand Rapids, then eight points (four goals, four assists) in eight games in the Calder Cup Playoffs. He also had six points (three goals, three assists) in five games for Norway at the IIHF World Championship, including an assist in a 3-2 overtime win against Canada in the bronze-medal game, helping his country win a medal at worlds for the first time. He turns 21 on Oct. 5.
Continued with some praise for Justin Faulk’s potential fantasy hockey impact…
