The Detroit Red Wings are in the thick of one of the NHL’s most competitive division races, and they’re not just hanging around-they’re making a serious push. After a strong January last season, the Wings have managed to stay near the top of the Atlantic Division again this year.
And while the road ahead is anything but easy, there’s a lot to like about what’s happening in Hockeytown right now. Let’s break it down.
Truth #1: Todd McLellan has the Red Wings playing their best hockey in over a decade
This isn’t a fluke. Detroit currently holds down a playoff spot and sits atop the Atlantic Division standings.
That’s not something we’ve been able to say with confidence in recent years. And while there’s still a long way to go-especially with one of the league’s toughest remaining schedules-this team has shown real staying power.
Since November, they haven’t dropped back-to-back games in regulation. That’s the kind of consistency that separates contenders from pretenders.
A big reason for that? Todd McLellan.
The veteran coach has brought structure, accountability, and a fresh energy to the Red Wings’ bench. His willingness to shuffle lines and tweak combinations on the fly has paid off, especially as he’s navigated injuries and kept the team from falling into bad habits.
Under McLellan, Detroit looks sharper, more cohesive, and more resilient than they have in years. And the offseason additions-while not all perfect-are making meaningful contributions.
This team feels different. It feels like they believe.
Lie: The Red Wings are sending their best player to the Olympics
Detroit will be well-represented in Milan this February, with Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Moritz Seider all suiting up for their countries. If you include Eduards Tralmaks from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, that’s four players with Red Wings ties heading to the Olympics.
But here’s the head-scratcher: Alex DeBrincat isn’t one of them.
He’s having a career year. DeBrincat leads the team with 25 goals and sits just two points shy of Raymond’s team-high 52.
He’s also tied for fifth in the entire NHL in goals and is one of just three right wings in the top 20. This isn’t just a good season-it’s elite production.
And yet, he won’t be skating for Team USA in Italy.
That omission raises eyebrows, especially when looking at other selections. Take JT Miller, for example.
The veteran forward has battled injuries and has fewer points (26) in more games (39) than Patrick Kane, who’s also been banged up but still has 28 points in 32 games. If the idea was to bring in a veteran presence or a player who can rise to the moment, Kane-one of the most accomplished American-born players ever and a member of the 500-goal club-seems like a natural fit.
Instead, both he and DeBrincat will be watching from home. For a player like DeBrincat, who’s been one of the league’s top snipers this season, it’s a tough pill to swallow.
Truth #2: The Red Wings’ future in net is looking better than it has in years
Goaltending has been a question mark in Detroit for a while. The Wings haven’t really developed a true No. 1 netminder since Petr Mrazek. But that narrative might finally be changing.
Let’s start with Sebastian Cossa. The towering first-round pick is putting together a monster season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, helping lead them to a 29-3-2-1 record.
He’s personally accounted for 17 of those wins, with a sparkling 17-2-2 mark. That’s the kind of development Detroit was hoping for when they drafted him, and it’s starting to look like he could be the guy between the pipes in the not-so-distant future.
Backing him up are Michal Postava and Carter Gylander, both of whom have stepped up when called upon. Postava, signed out of the Czech league this past offseason, is 5-1-0 in his first taste of North American hockey. And when he went down with an injury, Gylander-Detroit’s longest-tenured goalie prospect-got the call-up from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye and promptly went 6-0-1 with Grand Rapids.
Then there’s Trey Augustine, who’s putting together a stellar season at the collegiate level. A finalist for the Richter Award in 2025, Augustine is back on the watchlist again with a 13-5-0 record and a 1.72 goals-against average. That’s elite territory in the NCAA.
And the pipeline doesn’t stop there. Michal Pradel and Rudy Guimond, both recent draft picks, are continuing to impress in the USHL and QMJHL, respectively. While they’re still a few years away, the depth in the system is suddenly one of the organization’s biggest strengths.
Bottom line: The Red Wings are turning a corner. With McLellan behind the bench, DeBrincat lighting it up (even if he won’t be at the Olympics), and a goalie pipeline that’s finally showing signs of life, Detroit is starting to look like a team that’s not just building for the future-but ready to make some noise right now.