The Detroit Red Wings are quietly building something serious-and after grabbing five of a possible six points on their recent road swing, they're showing the kind of form that hasn’t been seen in Hockeytown since the heyday of the late 2000s. With a 106-point pace, Detroit is tracking toward its best regular season finish since 2008-09, the last time they made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. And with more than two-thirds of the season nearly in the books, they’re not just leading the Atlantic-they’re tied for the top spot in the entire Eastern Conference.
Let’s break down what’s fueling this surge.
Marco Kasper: Heating Up at the Right Time
One of the most encouraging developments from the Red Wings' road trip has been the emergence of Marco Kasper. After a slow start to the season-just six points in his first 47 games-the 2022 first-rounder is starting to look like the player Detroit hoped he’d become.
Skating on a line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, Kasper is finally finding rhythm and confidence. In the 5-1 win over Winnipeg, he chipped in a goal and an assist, bringing his season total to 12 points.
But the real story is his recent stretch: two goals, four assists, and a plus-seven rating over his last five games. He’s also firing the puck more, with 13 shots on goal during that span.
That’s a player trending in the right direction-and doing it on a top line.
Kasper’s recent play looks a lot more like what we saw in the second half of last season. If he keeps this up, Detroit’s forward depth suddenly looks a lot more dangerous heading into the final stretch.
John Gibson: Vezina-Caliber Run
Now let’s talk about the man between the pipes. John Gibson has been nothing short of elite.
He’s 17-2 in his last 19 starts with a jaw-dropping 1.95 goals-against average. That’s not just hot-that’s Vezina Trophy-level dominance.
He’s now riding his second eight-game win streak of the season, something only one other Red Wings goalie-Chris Osgood-has ever done in a single campaign. That’s some serious company.
Considering what Detroit gave up to get him-a fourth-round pick and a future second-this is shaping up to be one of the savviest trades in recent memory for the franchise. Goaltending is the great equalizer in hockey, and Gibson is proving that every night. With him backstopping the team, Detroit has a legitimate shot to make noise come playoff time.
Around the Organization: Prospects Making Noise
While the NHL squad is rolling, the Red Wings’ pipeline is also humming.
Start with Sebastian Cossa, who continues to rack up wins and accolades in net. Then there’s Trey Augustine, the Michigan State standout who just posted back-to-back wins against Minnesota to improve to 17-5-0.
With a 1.73 GAA and .938 save percentage, Augustine is making a strong case as one of the top goalie prospects in the country. He’s allowed two or fewer goals in 17 of his 22 starts-an impressive 77.2% clip.
Forward Dylan James, Detroit’s 40th overall pick in 2022, also had himself a weekend. Playing for North Dakota, he notched two assists and scored the go-ahead goal in a 5-3 comeback win over Arizona State.
Meanwhile, Carter Bear-Detroit’s 2025 first-rounder-continues to light it up in the WHL, with 26 points in his last 17 games for Everett. He’s been peppering the net too, with 17 shots on goal in his last three games.
What’s Next
The Red Wings return home for two big matchups against Los Angeles and Washington. By the time those games are in the books, more than two-thirds of the season will be behind them. And if they keep playing like this-getting timely goals from rising young stars, elite goaltending from a red-hot veteran, and contributions throughout the lineup-they’ll be in position not just to make the playoffs, but to do real damage once they get there.
This isn’t just a hot streak. It’s the look of a team that’s starting to believe. And with the way things are trending in Detroit, the rest of the league should start paying attention.