Five Under The Radar Reasons Why Red Wings Missed Playoffs

Assessing why the Detroit Red Wings are again watching other teams skating in the NHL playoffs, some reasons aren’t all that difficult to unearth. A dismal start to the season that led to the dismissal of coach Derek Lalonde after Christmas. A 4-10 slate during the month of March. Sending the NHL’s worst penalty kill over the boards.

All valid contributors to the overall failure. However, the list of problems goes much deeper than that. Here are five under the radar reasons why Detroit is yet again watching the NHL postseason on TV.

Fourth Line Fails To Launch

Detroit didn’t deploy a typical fourth-line last season. Between them, Robby Fabbri (18 goals), Daniel Sprong (18) and Joe Veleno (12) combined for 48 goals.

This season, the Red Wings were mostly working with a more traditional fourth line of grinders and defense-first types. The trio that finished the season in that role included Tyler Motte (four goals), Austin Watson (two) and Craig Smith. Smith scored nine goals this season, but all came with Chicago prior to his trade-deadline move to Detroit.

Can Any Red Wings Win A Draw?

How many times did you gnash your teeth in angst this season as a Detroit center lost a key draw? Well, the Red Wings didn’t just appear to be bad in the faceoff circle. They were.

Detroit was 22nd in the NHL in faceoff win percentage at 49.0%. The Wings performed at a 48.6% success rate on defensive zone draws.

Less O From Red Wings D

Detroit defensemen accounted for 44 goals during the 2023-24 season. In the summer, Shayne Gostisbehere (10 goals) left via UFA and Jake Walman (12) was traded.

Simon Edvinsson – Detroit Red Wings (7) pic.twitter.com/rdgpxaq7cT

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) February 26, 2025

The Red Wings didn’t come close to replacing those lost rearguard goals. Not one Detroit defender got to double digits in goals. Moritz Seider led the way win eight goals. Simon Edvinsson scored seven times. No other defenseman scored more than four goals.

Detroit’s blueline corps finished with 27 goals. That was a 38.64% decrease in output.

Second Period Shortcomings

In exit interviews, several Red Wings players were talking about the need to find more consistency in their game.

“If we can cut out the streakiness, I feel like that’s where we could really grow,” goalie Cam Talbot said.

Detroit’s second periods were a prime example of that overall inconsistency. The Red Wings were 30th in the NHL in second-period goals for, tallying just 66 goals in the middle frame. At the same time, the club was surrendering 83 second-period goals. That’s a minus-17 overall.

Empty Net Misadventures

The season-ending 4-3 loss at Toronto was a microcosm of how it often when south for the Wings this season. Leading 3-1 entering the third period, Detroit would squander that lead, allowing the tying goal with seconds second left in regulation and Toronto’s goalie on the bench for an extra attacker. The Maple Leafs would win in overtime.

"GREAT!"

TANEV TIES IT WITH 1.8 SECONDS LEFT vs Red Wings courtesy of @Bonsie1951 and @Jim_Ralph pic.twitter.com/5Ec0CaMnEv

— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) April 18, 2025

“It kind of surmised our season in my opinion,” coach Todd McLellan said. “We had the potential to win a game, played a pretty good game and our game management skills were horrendous and it came back to bite us.”

He’s not wrong. The Red Wings allowed eight goals this season with the other team’s goalie pulled. Detroit coughed up third-period leads and lost in OT six times. In four of those games, the tying goal came with five minutes or less left in regulation. Three times, the equalizing tally was scored with the other team’s goalie on the bench in favor of the extra attacker.