The Detroit Red Wings’ offseason has gone off the rails, and the biggest issue now is still unresolved: the search for a new general manager.
According to Max Bultman of The Athletic, the situation around Detroit has only grown more unsettled. Steve Yzerman is now in a different position, but the team still has not named his replacement, and that leaves everything else hanging in the balance for a club that has missed the playoffs in 10 straight seasons.
The chatter around the organization has not exactly been flattering. Over the past few weeks, there have been suggestions that players are running the team and that key signings were missed. League insiders have even hinted that Detroit is being run more like a baseball operation than a hockey one, which is a pretty sobering charge for a franchise already under pressure.
Dylan Larkin remains a major part of the uncertainty. Bultman said Larkin continues to want out of Detroit, while the Red Wings still appear to want a reconciliation. There may still be a path to patch things up, but there is also the chance the situation gets worse before it gets better.
The delay in naming a general manager only adds to the fog. Bultman said Detroit is in no rush and that the team’s process is its process, but the timeline took a hit in July.
Until that new decision-maker is in place, the real direction of the franchise is hard to pin down. That also leaves the Larkin situation unresolved for now: “Again, stay tuned.”
Bultman also pointed to the Sebastian Cossa situation as a reminder of how quickly things can shift in Detroit. The team pivoted to Michal Postava almost overnight, and Cossa was left in the cold. That kind of move fits a broader pattern that has not worked well for the Red Wings over the past decade.
There is even some belief that Detroit could retool after the 2026-27 season, though that is still speculation. For now, the waiting game continues.
Elsewhere, the market still has some bargain options for teams looking to fill holes without paying top dollar. Scott Maxwell of the Daily Faceoff noted that with about six weeks left before the start of the 2026-27 NHL regular season, there are still free agents available at reasonable prices.
With the sticker shock gone, general managers can afford to take a few more chances. James van Riemsdyk and Michael Bunting are two of the names floating around as low-cost bets.
Van Riemsdyk can still help on the power play and, for the right price, could deliver a 35-40 point season with limited risk. Bunting won’t be getting the $4.5 million salary he once might have, but his 20-20 potential is still in play if he lands in the right spot.
Patrik Laine is the most intriguing name in that group. He is not known for his defensive work; he shoots the puck and does it better than almost anyone.
He remains a power-play specialist with some even-strength upside, and the defensive concerns are well known. Still, he leads the NHL with 4.49 goals per 60 on the man advantage.
Someone will take a chance on Laine, just as teams will on Vladimir Tarasenko and Nick Blankenburg. Tarasenko scored 24 goals and added 23 assists last season, but disappeared in the playoffs. Blankenburg profiles as a useful depth defenseman who can settle in as a bottom-pairing option.
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The bigger debate is what to do with all of that room before it starts to disappear. By the time the 2027 free agent period rolls around, Detroit could be sitting on close to $40 million in space depending on re-signings and trades, with Alex DeBrincat and other coming-off-the-books contracts helping define the picture. Add in the expected rise of the salary cap, and the Wings are in position to be patient or pounce, but the real challenge is deciding which path best accelerates the roster without sacrificing the long-term plan. [Read more 🡒]