Author: George Malik

Detroit Hockey Now’s Max Smith discusses Lucas Raymond’s status as a dominant player over the course of his still-young NHL career, even though Smith sees Raymond’s 50+-assist season as something of a “mixed bag”:

In his age 23 season last year Raymond largely continued on the path that he had set up for himself through the previous four years in the league. After reaching 80 points in the 2024-25 season, the first Red Wing to do so since Henrik Zetterberg, expectations were high for Raymond.

While he performed at close to the same level as he had the previous year, his numbers did dip down to 76 points. He had two fewer goals and two fewer assists than the year before, and he still hasn’t scored 30+ goals since the 2023-24 campaign.

No. 23 also found himself missing a pair of games due to an upper body injury early in the season. That injury seemed to have an effect on Raymond even in the later months of the year, frustrating fans and coach Todd McLellan at times as he seemed gun shy with the puck on his stick.

However, while Raymond’s actual offensive output dropped, his underlying numbers stayed at a solid level. Raymond’s shooting percentage by the end of the season sat at 14.5%, better than the Red Wings’ leading scorer, Alex DeBrincat’s, at 14.2%. Though, Raymond’s xGF% and GF% sit below DeBrincat’s, at 48.81% and 49.49% respectively according to Statpede.

Continued; we all know that Raymond needs to shoot the puck more regularly this upcoming season, but last year, Raymond established himself as an elite playmaker, too.

The Hockey News’s Jake Tye posted a profile/scouting report of Red Wings prospect and Hobey Baker award winner Max Plante.

As Tye notes, the incoming Minnesota-Duluth sophomore played this past season with his brother, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Zam Plante, and, this fall, 2026 Red Wings draft pick Victor Plante will join the his brothers on the Bulldogs’ roster:

Max was excellent right out of the gate at the NCAA level, posting nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points in 23 games as a freshman before an even bigger breakout this past season. 

As a sophomore, he exploded for 25 goals and 27 assists for 52 points in just 40 games, the most by a Bulldog since 2011-12, earning him National Collegiate Hockey Conference Player of the Year honors and, ultimately, the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA men’s hockey.

Naturally, fans in Detroit would love to see Plante make the jump to the pro ranks sooner rather than later, and he figures to be part of that conversation at Red Wings training camp. 

However, Plante has already made his plans for this season clear in that he’ll be heading back to Duluth for his junior year, in large part so he can finally share the ice with both of his brothers at the same time, a chance to chase something he hasn’t yet achieved in a national championship.

Plante has stayed in close contact with the organization throughout the process, and Detroit appears comfortable letting his development play out on his own timeline. That leaves the door open for Plante to potentially sign with the Red Wings following the conclusion of next season’s NCAA campaign, with a scenario where he joins Detroit down the stretch, possibly in the middle of a playoff push, well within the realm of possibility.

Continued; my best guess about Max Plante is simple; I’d imagine that he will remain with Minnesota-Duluth for a long NCAA playoff run, and then it’s 50-50 as to whether he actually “turns pro.”

The Hockey News is ranking NHL teams by their perceived 2025-2026 season and then offseason performances, and Adam Proteau has the Red Wings ranked last in the league, at #32:

They went 31-16-4 through Jan. 21, and as they headed to the Olympic break, they were among the front-runners to win the highly competitive Atlantic Division. 

But from that point on, the Wings went 10-15-6, falling out of the playoff picture completely.

Adding insult to injury, the Red Wings’ captain, Dylan Larkin, requested a trade at season’s end. That was the low point in Detroit’s terrible off-season. This is why the Wings are dead-last – 32nd overall – when it comes to TheHockeyNews.com’s brand-new off-season rankings.

Moving in reverse, we’re ranking every team’s off-season, focusing on arrivals, departures (including coaching and management members), free-agent and trade moves. 

The Red Wings didn’t get better this off-season. To the contrary – they now seem like the only team in the Atlantic that will not be competing for a playoff spot in 2026-27.

Continued; this is a depressing and sometimes infuriating read, and I believe that’s the point of it all…

Sports Illustrated’s Nathan Smith compiled a list of the “3 Best Case Scenarios” for the Red Wings’ 2026-2027 campaign, and I’d argue that his second point of emphasis is the most important one:

Several Red Wings Prospects Make an Impact at Highest Level

Right now, the Red Wings are a team that lacks elite-level talent beyond a few names, and with none incoming through trade or free agency, this is a team that needs to rely on the draft and their own prospects.

While the team doesn’t have a clear-cut superstar like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg waiting in the wings, the team has a very intriguing prospect group, with several names potentially ready to make the full-time leap to the NHL in 2026/27.

The majority of those prospects are either in net or up front, and with only so many spots to fill, it’s unclear just how many of them will make that jump, but if the team takes a futures-based deal on captain Dylan Larkin, spots should continue to open up for them.

Ultimately, fans in Detroit are frustrated with the lack of success and that may force the new front office into a win-now move, but if the team can exercise patience, this is a prospect pool that’s ready to impact winning in the NHL.

Continued; if the Red Wings are to “run lean” and let the prospects learn over the course of 2026-2027, it would be fantastic if a couple of them “break out” as players with offensive potential, physical acumen or strong play-driving skating skills.

If this is going to be a long season via trading Dylan Larkin for “futures,” at least the future should be on the ice at Little Caesars Arena, too.

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills chronicled a recent Tigers game in which the recently-retired Paul Woods threw out the first pitch:

Proudly sporting the iconic Old English D, Paul Woods threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Detroit Tigers hosted the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park last Wednesday afternoon.

“It was amazing,” Woods recently told DetroitRedWings.com. “It’s humbling, and to be able to share that with my son and daughter was really something. Being out there and looking in at the crowd at Comerica Park, it was just such a special moment. I’m very thankful that it happened.”

The 71-year-old — who was born in Hespeler, Ontario, roughly three hours from Detroit — is a lifelong baseball fan. Woods has plenty of memories from his Little League days, when he spent time on the mound as a pitcher himself. So, to ensure he could execute the proper mechanics he knows so well, Woods took extra care of his throwing arm in the weeks leading up to last Wednesday’s game.

“I sort of hurt myself about a month ago,” Woods said. “My shoulder was bad, kind of my right arm, which I use to throw. I’ve been babying it for the last month just trying to make sure that I could get through to that date. It was just one pitch, so thankfully it all worked out. I pitched a lot as a kid, so it was important to me to do a good job.”

Continued…

The Free Press’s Helene St. James wrote a column in which she assesses the state of the Red Wings, as well as a Dylan Larkin update:

First and foremost, Larkin has a no-trade clause, which means his request to be traded included the places he wanted to land: the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights. The Wings have had discussions with those three teams, as well as Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill, who worked for the Wings for a long time and is close with many within the organization.

Then there’s Larkin’s contract: The 30-year-old has five years left on a deal carrying an $8.7 million annual average value, which looks more and more favorable as the salary cap ceiling rises to $104 million in 2026-27 and players such as Leo Carlsson and Connor Bedard drive individual salaries into the $18 million range. Not only is the cap hit friendly, so are the actual annual salaries left on Larkin’s deal, as the Wings paid him $10 million in 2023-24, $11 million in 2024-25, and $10 million in 2025-26, adding up to $31 million paid out on the $69.6 million extension he signed on March 1, 2023. The most he makes in actual salary in his remaining years is $8 million a year, in each of the coming three seasons.

Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson has updated his “NHL Trade Board,” and he’s including Alex DeBrincat on his list:

13. Alex DeBrincat, Detroit Red Wings

Most of this summer’s speculation concerning the Detroit Red Wings has focused on whether they’ll honor center Dylan Larkin’s trade request. However, their current efforts to replace Steve Yzerman as general manager have raised questions over Alex DeBrincat’s future with the franchise.

The 28-year-old DeBrincat is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. Since being acquired from the Ottawa Senators in 2023, he’s been among their most reliable scorers, including a 41-goal performance last season. He carries a cap hit of $7.9 million and a 16-team no-trade list.

DeBrincat’s scoring abilities would make him an enticing trade target if he becomes available. On July 15, Max Bultman of The Athletic speculated that DeBrincat would be among several trade candidates if the new Red Wings GM decides to rebuild the roster.

On July 27, Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now felt that DeBrincat would stay put if the Wings offered him fair market value on his next contract, citing the winger’s Michigan ties. Time will tell about that. For now, however, his future with the Red Wings will be worth monitoring as this season progresses.

And yes, Richardson addresses the Dylan Larkin situation, too:

According to DobberHockey’s Caleb Desjardins, Red Wings fans should not expect Viktor Arvidsson to put up Boston Bruins numbers on the Detroit Red Wings’ team:

Viktor Arvidsson, RW, Detroit Red Wings

Arvidsson has been a solid middle-six player throughout his career. However, last season on the Bruins forward group, he was given a bigger role and flourished, recording 54 points in 69 games. He now signed with the Red Wings for the next two seasons, but Detroit’s direction for next season is unclear. With Dylan Larkin likely leaving, the team will boast one of the weakest center cores in the NHL. Going to a poor team with little help up front may be enough to witness a regression from the 33-year-old. This rings especially true when you consider that last season was an outlier compared to the production in his past few campaigns.

Continued

Via Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen,

Former MSU Spartan and current Grand Rapids Griffins goalie Trey Augustine made an appearance on the Hockeytown West Podcast today. Augustine, the Red Wings second round pick from 2023, had a stellar career at Michigan State and is now set to make his full time professional debut this fall after seeing limited action with the Griffins in the spring. The young, South Lyon native has played his entire career for Michigan based teams.

With three goaltenders currently under contract with the Griffins, Augustine will be battling it out for playing time. Though, with Michal Postava potentially making a case for himself as Detroit’s backup netminder, Augustine’s path to playing time could be shorter than some other recent Red Wings goalies have found it to be.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted a profile of one Victor Plante this morning, noting that Victor and his brother, fellow Wings prospect and Hobey Baker winner Max Plante, are distinct individuals:

Some hockey people will say that in terms of pure skill, Victor might be better than Max. What those who know Victor best will also share about him is that he’s his own man. He’s undeniably proud of his brother’s accomplishments. But he’s not the least bit intimidated by being compared to Max.

Max certainly sees that aspect of his younger sibling.

“Even though he was my brother, I feel like he was kind of the player that kind of stuck out to you,” Max said. “Not only on the ice, but just like in the locker room, too. I feel like getting to know him, obviously he’s my brother, but just listening to people talk about him, he’s a great kid.”

Others who are around Victor also identify those unique characteristics in him. He doesn’t shy away from the comparisons, because he understands and accepts that under scrutiny, he’ll be able to stand on his own merits.

“I know the family a little bit,” USA World Junior coach Adam Nightingale said. “They’re great, grounded people, and I think they’ve instilled that in their kids.

“Victor, you are Victor, and you don’t have to try to be Max. I think their family’s done a great job of separating that they’re not the same.”

Continued