The Detroit Red Wings will be looking to finally get back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture in 2025-26. Last season, the Wings were close to a postseason berth, but ultimately fell short due to one crucial area: Goaltending.
The Red Wings were 21st in the league with a 3.16 goals against average (GAA). No playoff team had a higher GAA than the Red Wings except for the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens had a 3.18 GAA and barely snuck into the playoffs.
The Canadiens didn’t get past the first round. The Washington Capitals easily dispatched them in five games.
Detroit was also 20th in save percentage (SV%) at .896. In contrast, the Winnipeg Jets had the best SV% in the league at .922.
That’s a situation that won’t cut it in Detroit. The Red Wings will need to get much better goaltending this upcoming season if they are to end their nine-year playoff drought.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman took proactive steps this summer by trading for John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks. Gibson is a solid starter and should be poised to turn the Wings’ goaltending situation around, that is, if he can stay healthy.
If he can’t, the Red Wings could be in trouble, as the team will have to turn to Cam Talbot. The 38-year-old Talbot had a decent if unspectacular season. He played in 47 games and posted a 2-93 GAA and a .901 SV%. Not awful numbers, but not good enough to get the Wings in the playoffs.
Gibson can steal wins for the Red Wings. That factor alone could make the difference for Detroit this season. But it will take more than Gibson standing on his head for the Wings to land a playoff berth.
Red Wings Need to Play Solid Defense in front of Gibson
The Red Wings must prioritize playing solid defense in front of John Gibson. Beyond Moritz Seider, Detroit’s defense was suspect at times.
Blue liners like Justin Holl and Ben Chiarot were major question marks for the team. Both Chiarot and Holl are in the final years of their current contracts. So, fans can expect to see more of up-and-coming defensemen like Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson.
Both Edvinsson and Johansson were bright spots last season as they emerged as potentially solid NHLers. The addition of Jacob Bernard-Docker adds another young blue liner to the mix.
But then again, the Red Wings may see some growing pains moving forward. Their younger defensemen might not be quite ready for prime time, forcing the club to rely on veterans like Erik Gustafsson to shoulder a fair chunk of the playing time.
Detroit Could Be Looking to Add Another Defenseman
The Red Wings could be in the market for another defenseman this upcoming season. A lot of their search will depend on where the team stands around Thanksgiving. If the Wings are in the mix for a playoff spot, Yzerman could be compelled to look at blue line options out there.
While fans would love to see the team splurge on a top-pairing defenseman, the team may settle for an under-the-radar name to solidify the defense core.
The good news is that having Gibson in the crease will make it easier for the Red Wings’ blue line core to focus on winning games, knowing they have a bona fide number one goalie behind them.
Red Wings’ 2025-26 Season Depends on 1 Thing