The Detroit Red Wings think they can attack two issues at once in 2026-27: scoring more and being a pain to play against.
Their plan is pretty straightforward. Detroit wants to get heavier, more belligerent and tougher in the offensive zone, with the idea that physical pressure can wear teams down, create turnovers and eventually turn into goals. The front office already made a move toward that style this summer, sending a third-round pick and a seventh to the Vegas Golden Knights for Keenan Kolesar, who finished seventh in the league with 270 hits last season.
“Now we’ve got to get some other guys that are on our roster that can provide us that and become heavier and harder to play against,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “Then collectively we might score more by doing that.”
The numbers from last season give Detroit a clear target. The Red Wings were 22nd in scoring and 29th in hits, averaging just over 17 per game.
They want that to change, and they believe the route runs through a more physical identity. Heavy forechecking can force mistakes, disrupt puck movement and put the Wings in the offensive zone more often.
“If I can do what I can do and bring that role, I think guys can feed off it well,” Kolesar said.
Kolesar has been a bruising presence for a while now, averaging 262 hits per season over the last five years. He said that kind of style can spread inside a room.
“I would hope so,” Kolesar said. “I think there’s a room full of proud guys in here that want to turn things around.
Maybe the first step is bringing what I can, and see who wants to follow along. The Red Wings do have some young hitters, like Marco Kasper (who led the team in hits), Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, Emmitt Finnie, plus veteran Ben Chiarot.
Detroit also believes more help could be coming from its prospects. Carter Mazur and especially Michael Brandsegg-Nygard are viewed as players who could add some edge to the lineup.
“Nygaard’s going to make our team harder, assuming he makes the team, which I think he can,” McLellan said. “He’s going to make our team play a little harder.”
For Detroit, that’s the whole idea: more pressure, more puck battles won and, maybe, more goals because of it.
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