The resurgent season the Detroit Red Wings have had thus far has validated the Yzerplan. The team is finally on track to return to the postseason and do some damage along the way.
While it might seem like the Red Wings are a lock to make the playoffs, the team must beware of one thing following the Olympics.
As Wings guru Max Bultman pointed out in The Athletic, March slumps have been an issue in the past. And he’s right. Just look at the numbers last season. On February 25, 2025, the Red Wings defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2. They proceeded to lose six straight. They broke out of their slump on March 12, but ended up losing three of their next five.
Detroit started March 30-23-6, and they ended the month 34-33-6. That sour month ended up hurting the Red Wings. They ended up missing the playoffs by five points.
This comment doesn’t intend to throw shade at the Wings. But the club has had a history of fading in the past. That’s why the Red Wings must come out flying out of the post-Olympics gate.
The club is currently tied with the Montreal Canadiens with 72 points in the Atlantic Division. The Buffalo Sabres, yes, the Sabres, are nipping at their heels with 70. Even the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators could catch them if trends reverse.
Now, there doesn’t seem to be any indication of that happening. But as Bultman pointed out, the Wings hit the Olympics losing four of their last five. That’s not exactly an encouraging trend.
Olympics Could Offer Red Wings Chance to Regroup
The good thing about the Olympics is that the hiatus offers the club a chance to regroup. The rest will be especially important for goalies John Gibson and Cam Talbot. The stretch run following the Olympics will be particularly brutal. So, having rested goalies makes sense.
That said, the break should also offer the rest of the team a chance to heal injuries and get a much-needed mental reset. Players don’t have to report to the team until February 17. That situation gives Red Wings players a few extra days to decompress and recalibrate for the remainder of the season.
There Might Be Some Concerns about Detroit Players at Olympics
For some of the Red Wings’ stars, however, the Olympics won’t offer a break. Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Moritz Seider are all in Milano-Cortina. Those are three of the team’s most important players.
As such, they won’t be the beneficiaries of the layoff, especially if a team like the US goes all the way to the championship game.
Could that situation actually have a detrimental effect on these players? It’s possible. But fans won’t know for sure until the Red Wings hit the ice again.
It’s worth pointing out that the Wings would have to fall off a cliff to miss the playoffs at this point. But a soft March and April could make it tough for the Wings to hold on to what seems like a tenuous grasp of their first playoff berth in nearly a decade.
Red Wings Must Beware of 1 Thing after Olympics