The Hockey News’s Adam Proteau follows something of a trend in predicting that the Detroit Red Wings will finish last in the Atlantic Division standings this season:
8th: Detroit Red Wings
2025-26 Divisional Finish: Sixth
Off-Season Power Ranking: 32nd
Newcomers: Viktor Arvidsson (RW), Keegan Kolesar (RW) Daniil Tarasov (G), Shawn Horcoff (interim GM)
Here’s Why They’re Picked Eighth: We’re not here to pile on the Red Wings, a franchise that once was the measuring stick for all NHL teams. But there’s no denying the fact that Detroit has stumbled time and again, in virtually all aspects of the game.
Nothing the Wings added this summer will push them into a playoff spot. Star center Dylan Larkin still wants out, and Horcoff has no GM experience. So unless a Motown miracle happens, Detroit is destined for another long year.
Why We Could Be Wrong: Every Atlantic team has components worth building around, and the Red Wings have that in defenseman Moritz Seider and wingers Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat.
There’s always a chance Detroit surprises people – that’s why they play the games – but the Wings are facing a mountainous task in a vicious division, so it will take a lot of internal improvement for them to ascend the Atlantic standings.
Continued; it’s going to take a significant amount of work for the Wings to even battle for a Wild Card spot, but I’m not willing to write the Wings off just yet. There are still games to be played.
