It’s a rough week for NHL radio traditions, and Red Wings fans have reason to feel a little relieved.
While Columbus Blue Jackets fans are reacting to the team’s decision not to renew longtime radio broadcaster Bob McElligott, Detroit is still sticking with the old-school setup: separate broadcast teams for radio and television. That matters in a league where more clubs are moving toward simulcasting the TV feed on radio.
The Blue Jackets have now joined that group, along with the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues and Columbus.
The New York Islanders still keep a dedicated radio team, though they use the TV feed for select games.
The timing is notable because teams across sports are taking a hard look at what radio deals are worth. Toronto’s Joe Bowen, a beloved voice for 44 years, retired after a final season in which the team no longer sent him on the road. He called games from the studio while watching on television.
Detroit, though, remains a holdout in the best possible way. Mickey Redmond’s popularity is off the charts, and he and Ken Daniels are widely regarded as the No. 1 local NHL broadcast team.
On the radio side, Ken Kal has built a strong following, and Paul Woods did as well. The hope is that the Red Wings keep that traditional structure in place and eventually name another analyst.
Elsewhere around the team, the Red Wings used their social media platform Thursday to wish Dylan Larkin a Happy Birthday.
There’s also some movement on the prospect front. JP Hurlbert and Brent Solomon are looking forward to facing each other in the Big Ten schedule. And USA coach respects the hard work and tenacity of the Red Wings top draft pick in 2026.
As for the organization’s young talent, Sportsnet’s ranking of the NHL’s top five U25 core groups did not include Detroit. Montreal was No. 1, followed by the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers. The honorable mentions were the Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild.
Still, the Red Wings’ U25 group looks strong under Sportsnet’s criteria: Moritz Seider (25), Simon Edvinsson (23), Albert Johansson (25), Lucas Raymond (24), Marco Kasper (22) and Emmitt Finnie (21). That’s a desirable group.
In Other News...
Red Wings Playoff Hopes May Depend On The One Fix Fans Doubted
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That approach asks a lot from a defense corps still taking shape, especially with contributions expected from both newcomers and returning pieces. It also puts a premium on the goaltending holding up when the game gets messy, because the margin for error in the East is not forgiving. For fans who were hoping the answer would be a proven scorer arriving to change the outlook overnight, this version of the fix may feel less glamorous. It may also be the one that decides whether Detroit stays in the race long enough for the goals to matter. [Read more 🡒]
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Fetisov, now a member of Russias State Duma, said he was disappointed by the ruling and accused the IIHF of showing bias against Russia. His comments add another layer to a debate that has long stretched beyond hockey, with the sports top officials still facing pressure to balance competitive fairness, safety concerns and the broader fallout from the war. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Need More Than Wins To Feel Like Detroit Again
The Red Wings problems this season have gone well beyond the standings, because the bigger issue hanging over the franchise is whether the team actually feels like Detroit again. After years of trying to push back toward contention, the conversation around this group has shifted toward something more fundamental: rebuilding a style that is tougher, more connected and harder to play against, the kind of identity that once defined the organization and still shapes the way fans judge it.
Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond sit at the center of that discussion, not just as talented young pieces but as the players most likely to help set the tone for what comes next. The challenge is less about chasing a playoff spot in the short term than making sure the Red Wings establish a clear identity first, one that can hold up against the NHL teams that have made two-way structure and physical edge part of their core. [Read more 🡒]