The Hockey News’ summer splash series continues as we go team-by-team and evaluate the off-seasons of every NHL franchise. In these exclusive rankings, we’ve debated and discussed each team’s additions, departures, hirings and firings.
And in the final rankings, we’ve slotted in each of the league’s 32 teams into one of three categories – teams that have improved this summer, teams that have regressed, and teams that essentially stayed the same.
We’re heading into the home stretch of these rankings, but we’re still in a tier where the teams we’re currently focused on have more or less stayed the same. That will change soon enough, as we eventually move into discussing teams that have improved the most. But right now, we’re at position No. 11 – the Detroit Red Wings. Let’s look at how the Red Wings’ off-season has unfolded, and where they project to be headed next season:
Additions
John Gibson (G), Mason Appleton (RW), James van Riemsdyk (LW), Jacob Bernard-Docker (D)
The Breakdown: Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman came into the off-season with a boatload of salary cap space, but even after adding the above four veterans, the Wings still have approximately $12-million in cap space. In a sense, it’s like Yzerman couldn’t convince any player of consequence to come to the Motor City, and while salary cap flexibility is always a good thing, Detroit’s lineup as currently constituted doesn’t match up with the Red Wings’ Atlantic Division rivals.
Now, the reason why Detroit is relatively high in our summer splash rankings is that their biggest move was the trade acquisition of former Anaheim Ducks star goalie John Gibson, who has been in trade rumors for years before Anaheim shipped him to the Red Wings. Gibson’s arrival turns what had been a weakness into a strength, as Gibson and fellow veteran Cam Talbot are a promising goalie tandem.
Otherwise, while former Winnipeg Jets winger Mason Appleton isn’t a terrible player, he’s not a needle-mover, either. And greybeard winger James van Riemsdyk and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker are strictly depth acquisitions. The big prize for Yzerman was Gibson, who now comes into Detroit knowing full well the pressure is on him to prove the Wings were smart to acquire him.
Departures
Vladimir Tarasenko (RW), Alex Lyon (G), Jeff Petry (D), Craig Smith (C), Tyler Motte (C)
The Breakdown: The Red Wings’ most high-profile departure is Vladimir Tarasenko, who was dealt to the Minnesota Wild after one year in Detroit, where he produced only 11 goals and 33 points in 80 games. The 33-year-old’s 2025-26 salary of $4.75 million was a price Yzerman no longer wished to pay, and the addition of Appleton essentially replaces Tarasenko on Detroit’s third line.
Otherwise, the name-brand departures for the Wings are goalie Alex Lyon, who signed with the Buffalo Sabres, and veteran D-man Jeff Petry, who signed with the Florida Panthers. But to say the Red Wings will miss any of the players who’ve left them this summer is an overstatement.
Indeed, this Wings team wasn’t nearly good enough to be a Stanley Cup playoff team last year, so roster turnover was going to be unavoidable. But the changes Yzerman has made outside of his goalie tandem are only going to make the Red Wings slightly better.
The Bottom Line
Let’s be clear – the Red Wings are where they are in our summer splash rankings primarily because of the Gibson move. Goaltending had been an issue in Detroit for a long time, and Yzerman finally found the big fish in net that he and Wings fans have been aching for.
However, when you look at the big picture in the Atlantic, the Red Wings are still going to face a hellacious battle just to land a wild card playoff berth, let alone contend for a top-three spot in the division. Yzerman didn’t do much to address his team’s defense corps, and at forward, Yzerman is still banking on a group of young players rising and justifying Yzerman’s belief in them.
The Wings are still in the mid-tier of our summer splash ranks because, even with Gibson in town, they’re not quite a top-10 team in terms of summer improvements. Yes, they’re technically better, and that’s why they’re not 15th or 20th in these ratings. But looking at Detroit as a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference is a major-league stretch.
By season's end, it would surprise no one if the Red Wings were on the outside of the playoff picture looking in for the 10th consecutive season. Gibson will have to steal a lot of games just to keep them fighting for a playoff spot, and of course, that’s not guaranteed. And if the Wings falter yet again, Yzerman’s job security will be in jeopardy.
Summer Splash Rankings
11. Detroit Red Wings
13. St. Louis Blues
16. Ottawa Senators
17. Boston Bruins
18. Edmonton Oilers
19. Minnesota Wild
20. Seattle Kraken
27. Dallas Stars
28. Calgary Flames
30. Winnipeg Jets
32. Buffalo Sabres
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