3 Red Wings offseason predictions after missing 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Detroit Red Wings missed the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs in brutal fashion. They spent much of the season as a playoff contender. They seemed to have turned a major corner in their rebuild. However, the Red Wings suffered another major collapse late in the year. And as a result, they have missed the playoffs for the 10th straight season.

Putting salt in the wound may be how the 2026 playoffs have played out to this point. Take, for example, the second round series between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens won in Game 7 over the Sabres, but the Red Wings could have easily been either team.

Detroit owned first place in the Eastern Conference in late January. Buffalo was the Atlantic Division winner in 2026. Meanwhile, the Red Wings were third in the Atlantic when the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline came around. The Canadiens finished third in the division, and are now in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Detroit certainly wants to make those sorts of runs. Seeing teams in their own division start to lap them, though, is a hard pill to swallow. And it puts additional pressure on Steve Yzerman and his front office to compete now instead of later.

The Red Wings have a lot of work ahead of them this summer. With this in mind, here are three offseason predictions for Detroit ahead of the new league year beginning on July 1.

Patrick Kane has played final game with Detroit

Let’s begin with a quick and easy one. The Red Wings initially signed Patrick Kane during the 2023-24 season, and he has been a very solid player for them. His playmaking ability, especially, has helped the Red Wings win more games than they otherwise would have.

However, it’s clear that Kane is heading toward the end of his career. And it’s clear that Detroit likely won’t be winning a Stanley Cup anytime soon. The Red Wings have some younger players knocking on the door to the NHL. Those players have more to offer in the long term.

As a result, Kane and Detroit end their relationship after three seasons. He goes on to either retire with the Blackhawks, or potentially chase a Cup somewhere. Meanwhile, the Red Wings give one of those young players a chance to show that they belong at the NHL level.

Red Wings swing trade for Vincent Trocheck

The Red Wings swung a trade for Justin Faulk at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. Faulk played well for the most part, scoring five goals and eight points in 17 games after the trade. However, there is another name they were connected to at the deadline: New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck.

The Rangers did not trade Trocheck at the deadline this season. But that will likely change this summer. New York is looking to offload his contract, with teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs interested in the veteran center. The Red Wings could certainly circle back here.

Our next prediction is that Detroit and New York find a way to get a deal done. Trocheck becomes the Red Wings’ second-line center, while New York continues its retooling process with both the freed-up cap space and the assets gained in return for the veteran pivot’s services.

Steve Yzerman sticks to his guns, signs Jacob Trouba

If there’s one thing general manager Steve Yzerman loves, it’s players with ties to the state of Michigan. Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, and Andrew Copp are all from Michigan. Jeff Petry also wore a Wings sweater at one point, and his father played for the Detroit Tigers. J.T. Compher went to Michigan as a college hockey player.

A few years ago, it seemed inevitable that another name would join the list. Jacob Trouba was reportedly nearly traded to the Red Wings at the 2024 NHL Draft. However, this never materialized for whatever reason. Trouba eventually was traded to the Anaheim Ducks during the 2024-25 season.

This summer, the veteran defenseman will be a free agent. The Michigan native will be free to sign with any team on July 1. Yzerman has a track record of acquiring players he had trade interest in, having signed James van Riemsdyk last summer. The Red Wings’ defensive group may be a bit crowded, but Trouba would check a lot of boxes on and off the ice for this team.

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