Why Red Wings could end an eight-season playoff drought

Although the Detroit Red Wings ended 2023-24 on a low note, missing the playoffs for the eighth straight season, there are reasons for optimism in Hockeytown.

Detroit, which opens the season at home on Thursday against Pittsburgh, improved by 11 points over the previous season (80 to 91) and finished above .500 for the first time since its last playoff appearance in 2016. This season, the Red Wings look to build on that. 

Here's why Detroit could return to the playoffs.

Bolstered forward group

General manager Steve Yzerman wasn't as active in the offseason as in years past, but he improved the team nonetheless. In addition to signing franchise cornerstones Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider to eight- and seven-year deals, respectively, he bolstered the forward group. 

Winger Vladimir Tarasenko, coming off a Stanley Cup title with the Florida Panthers, signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract. He should pair nicely with Patrick Kane, who re-signed with Detroit after speculation he might look elsewhere.

Yzerman also added depth forward Tyler Motte, a Michigan native who should provide penalty-killing and defensive prowess in the bottom six. 

Tarasenko, Kane, Motte and prospect Jonatan Berggren, who spent 67 games with Detroit in 2022-23, should help replace the lost goal production of Daniel Sprong, David Perron and Robby Fabbri, who combined for 53 goals last season.

Additionally, the top line of Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond will likely provide electric goalscoring and tough assignments for opponents' defensemen. Overall, this is the deepest group of forwards Detroit has had in quite some time.

Physical defense

Defensively, Moritz Seider will continue to lead the way for the Red Wings. Last season, he was the first defenseman since 2007-08 to record 200 hits and 200 blocks. He'll likely pair with Ben Chiarot, another physical presence on the blue line (167 hits, 163 blocks). 

Meanwhile, rookie Simon Edvinsson should also have a big role. The sixth overall pick in 2021 spent 16 games with Detroit at the end of last season and should help shore up a defensive core that gave up the eighth-most goals per game in the NHL. With Seider and Chiarot listed at 6-foot-3 and Edvinsson at 6-foot-6, Detroit's top four will be a force to be reckoned with.

Depth-wise, free-agent signee Erik Gustafsson — who signed a two-year, $4 million contract during the offseason — will likely step into the offensive defenseman role that Shayne Gostisbehere played last season. 

Veterans Jeff Petry and Olli Maatta round out the rest of the group, and rookie Albert Johansson — who is no longer waiver exempt and thus on the club's roster — will play, too.

Good goaltending options

In the net, the Red Wings have plenty of options. Veteran Cam Talbot signed a two-year deal over the summer. Coming off a solid season with Los Angeles, he'll likely split time with Alex Lyon. The 31-year-old Lyon played a career-high 44 games last season, including 22 of the club's last 32 games following the All-Star break. A tandem with Talbot will give both goaltenders the option of needed rest during the season. 

Ville Husso, who spent most of his 2023-24 season injured, could be a wild card. If he gets back to form, the Red Wings might find themselves with a third goaltending option or potential trade bait at the trade deadline on March 7.

The verdict

An improved top-six forward core and better goaltending should have Detroit battling for a postseason spot. However, in a tough Atlantic Division, the Red Wings once again will be in for a dogfight. 

Florida, Toronto, Boston and Tampa Bay were playoff teams last season and will be pushing for spots this season. Ottawa and Buffalo aim to end their rebuilds with a solid core of young players. 

A playoff team in the Eastern Conference might need roughly 95 points, which would be a four-point improvement for the Red Wings. If Detroit can improve its defense and scoring, a playoff appearance is doable.