Red Wings Hit a Wall: Goaltending Woes, Defensive Breakdowns, and a Search for Identity
Back in mid-October, Little Caesars Arena had the feel of something brewing. The Red Wings jumped out to a 5-1-0 start, playing fast, aggressive hockey that hinted at a team ready to take the next step. But as we roll into December, that early-season promise has given way to a hard dose of reality.
Detroit has now dropped four straight, sitting at 13-11-2 - a record that feels far more fragile than it looks on paper. The cracks aren’t just cosmetic.
This isn’t about bad luck or a couple of unlucky bounces. What we’re seeing is a team whose foundation is being tested - and right now, it’s not holding up.
The Goaltending Gamble That’s Gone Sideways
Let’s start where the spotlight is hottest: between the pipes.
Detroit made a big bet in the offseason by bringing in veteran John Gibson, hoping his experience would bring stability to the crease. Instead, it’s been a rough ride.
Through 13 appearances, Gibson is posting a .865 save percentage - a number that simply doesn’t cut it in today’s NHL. For context, .900 is generally considered the bare minimum for NHL-caliber goaltending.
Anything below that, and you're asking for trouble.
But it gets worse when you dig into the advanced numbers. Gibson currently ranks third-worst in the entire league in goals saved above average (GSAA) at -10.4.
That means, based on the quality and quantity of shots he’s faced, he’s allowed over ten more goals than an average goalie would have. That’s not just a stat - that’s the difference between winning tight games and watching them slip away.
Cam Talbot has provided some steadiness, but asking a 38-year-old to carry the load for the bulk of the season isn’t a viable long-term solution. Talbot is a capable backup. He’s not the answer to a full-season goaltending crisis.
Defensive Disconnect and the Cost of Chaos
Of course, goaltending doesn’t happen in isolation. The defense in front of Gibson and Talbot has been inconsistent at best, leaky at worst.
The Red Wings currently sit with a -12 goal differential, ranking 27th in the NHL. They’re giving up 3.38 goals per game - and in a league that’s only getting faster and more skilled, that’s a recipe for disaster.
Head coach Todd McLellan hasn’t sugarcoated it. He recently pointed to a “disconnect between forwards and defensemen,” and it doesn’t take a coach’s eye to see it.
Watch the tape from the recent loss to Nashville - the Predators, who entered the game as the league’s worst team, lit up Detroit for six goals. That’s not just a bad night.
That’s a system out of sync.
The problem isn’t talent. It’s structure.
Too often, the Wings are stretched out on breakouts, with forwards flying the zone while defensemen are left scrambling under pressure. The result?
Turnovers in the neutral zone and odd-man rushes going the other way. McLellan called the puck management “casual,” and he’s not wrong.
The passes are off, the spacing is poor, and the transition game - once a strength - has become a liability.
When the forwards don’t track back and the defense can’t cleanly exit the zone, you end up chasing the game. And that’s exactly what Detroit is doing right now.
Still Searching for an Identity
A quarter of the way into the season, and the Red Wings still don’t know what kind of team they want to be.
Are they a fast, transition-heavy group that attacks off the rush? Or a heavy, grinding team that wins with forechecking and physicality? Right now, they’re stuck somewhere in between - and it’s showing.
McLellan admitted as much, saying the team is still “trying to look for” its identity. That’s a problem.
In the NHL, you can’t afford to be figuring things out on the fly. You need to know who you are - and play like it.
The coaching staff is clearly frustrated with the lack of commitment to checking - not just hitting, but the full defensive buy-in that includes angling opponents, closing gaps, and winning stick battles. Some nights, the energy is there.
Other nights, the effort is flat. That inconsistency is killing them.
Right now, the Red Wings look like an orchestra where the percussion section (defense) and the strings (offense) are playing two entirely different pieces. Until they find a common rhythm, the music’s going to keep sounding off-key.
The Cossa Dilemma
And then there’s the question everyone’s asking: What about Sebastian Cossa?
The highly-touted goaltending prospect is lighting it up in the AHL with a .942 save percentage. That’s elite, and it’s hard not to wonder if he could be the spark this team needs.
But it’s not that simple.
Carrying three goalies on an NHL roster is a logistical headache. It messes with practice reps, game rhythm, and development.
More importantly, throwing Cossa into a situation where the defense is bleeding chances could do more harm than good. He’s the future - and the Red Wings have to be careful not to burn him out trying to fix the present.
There’s a balance to be struck here between short-term desperation and long-term investment. And right now, the smart play might be patience.
Bright Spots in a Stormy Stretch
It hasn’t all been bad. Captain Dylan Larkin continues to lead by example, recently extending his point streak to four games. He’s doing everything he can to drag this team forward.
And the Wings did show some fight against the Bruins, clawing back late to salvage a point. That kind of resilience matters - especially when the wheels are wobbling.
But grit alone won’t fix what’s broken. As McLellan said, this team “has it in them.”
The pieces are there. But potential doesn’t win games.
Execution does.
Right now, the Red Wings are a team with playoff aspirations playing like a group still figuring out how to win. The early-season momentum is gone, and the margin for error is shrinking fast.
The good news? There’s time.
The bad news? Not much.