Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Offense a One Trick Pony
Larkin, Raymond and DeBrincat have scored 30 of Detroit’s 69 goals
When it comes to goal scoring this season, the Detroit Red Wings are basically a one-trick pony.
If Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, or Alex DeBrincat don’t score, chances are that the Wings aren’t going to be doing much scoring at all.
One Trick Pony was a smash hit for Paul Simon way back in 1980.
On the other hand, should the Red Wings continue to be a one-trick pony offensively, the team’s season will soon crash and burn.
Larks buries his 13th on the season pic.twitter.com/uXesJ5OSz4
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 25, 2025
Larkin (13), DeBrincat (11), and Raymond (six) have accounted for 30 of Detroit’s 69 goals this season. That works out to 43.48% of the club’s entire offensive output.
Expecting those three to keep producing at that pace is, to put it frankly, unsustainable.
The problem, though, is that the problem is growing more pronounced.
Twelve of the last 18 goals scored by Detroit forwards in even-strength scenarios have come from the Larkin line. That’s 67% of those goals.
Red Wings Coach Briefly Formed Super Line
At one point this season, Red Wings coach Todd McLellan put all his scoring eggs in one basket, forming a super line of Larkin, Raymond and DeBrincat. Seeking to find balance in attack, he’s since moved DeBrincat back in alongside Patrick Kane and JT Compher on the second line.
That's THE CAT! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/YU9wl734cK
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 25, 2025
To date, though, nothing seems to be able to get any of Detroit’s other three lines fired up when it comes to scoring goals. In the past 11 games, the Larkin line has scored at least one goal in nine games. In four of those games, someone from that line was the only Detroit forward to score five-on-five.
“We can score more at five-on-five,” Larkin said. He means the team, not his line.
It’s a sentiment echoed by his coach.
“We still want to be better five-on-five,” McLellan said. “So there’s improvement needed there.”
Too Many Detroit Forwards Shooting Blanks
The vast majority of Detroit forwards appear incapable of scoring in any situation.
Andrew Copp has one goal all season and has gone 21 games without a goal.
“I think our five-on-five scoring overall, especially maybe the last 10 games or so, hasn’t been great,” Copp said.
Mason Appleton has been goalless over the past 19 games. Marco Kasper hasn’t had a point in the last 12 games. It’s been nine games without a goal for Jonatan Berggren, and six without a goal for Elmer Soderblom.
James van Riemsdyk scored Monday at New Jersey, ending a 16-game goalless drought. Michael Rasmussen has one goal in 15 games. Emmitt Finnie and Compher each have one goal in 14 games, while Kane has scored once in 10 games. Nate Danielson has one goal in eight games.
“So, yeah, we gotta find ways to get more pucks to the net, possess the puck a little bit more in the offensive zone,” Copp said. “The rush game can kind of come and go sometimes, but we gotta be able to create chances from below their goal line and run the net a little bit more.”
If they don’t, if that across-the-board scoring futility continues, there can only be one outcome. The Red Wings are going to begin to see a downward slide in the standings.
A one-trick pony won’t get a club into the playoffs. A team needs plenty of horses to power its way to that destination.
Not much of a “trick” either.
WTH is wrong with Kasper. It’s not this sophomore slump BS. To not have even one assist the entire year is borderline impossible. There are games where the announcers barely ever even mention his name. Copp is a full-time passenger like Rasmussen, who drives the bus.
Put him on the top line and go from there. Something is amiss. Sophomore slump is superstition and this is not anything near it. He has to get his act together soon. Send him down if he does not. The young man is tough mentally, so I do not think it is his confidence that much. Either he is not that good or he pulls it together starting now and proves otherwise. How long do they wait? I am not sure. He need to start getting on track very soon. He has the talent and hockey smarts, so he should be able to do it.
Hi RW …Even a parking cone would have an assist or two by now. A lot of it has to do with his positioning . His net front presence has been pretty much nonexistent. Like I said you rarely hear his name on broadcasts. That pretty much means he is on the outside of the play most of the time…. Like Rasmussen. Hopefully he pulls it together because he is showing nothing other than a few hits.
I posted the same thing recently. Just can’t see this being that 2’nd year thing. Seem more serious than that.
This is a reflection of Steve Yzerman. Why? He goes out and gets JVR and Appleton. Seriously, they are not going to help. Next, MBN is sent down. Okay, fine. Now, it is time to bring him up again. He is a shooter at the very least.
On another note, I think Finnie can and will score goals. Nate Danielson does not shoot the puck enough. He has lots of talent, but someone has to drill it in his head that they want him shooting the puck on net more; otherwise, be a career AHL guy. Yes, I know it is too early, but even in the AHL, his SOG should have been higher. Yes, 200 foot players are nice. However, no 200 foot player is worth anything if they are not scoring during the season.
My hope for this team is: Buchelnikov, Kiiskinen and Bear along with MBN who like to shoot the puck. I have always liked Yzerman, but I do not get his reluctance to find picks and players that will score. And relying on aged vets (Tarasenko and JVR) is absurd. He should have been on the Zegras deal. Who is out there now that fits in the timeframe? I am not certain.
Start looking at teams that may sell. I would look at NYR and go after Alexis Lafreniere. At least he shoots the puck, has size and skates. Perhaps Tage Thompson wants out of Buffalo? Or see if Armstrong is willing to move Robert Thomas. Is Kyrou an option? I am not sure. However, the Red Wings need forwards that will score. I am all for Nate Danielson and Marco Kasper, but they must be putting in 20+ goals at a minimum at some point. Yes, I know it is early for them.
With all due respect my friend, sit back and take a deep breath. If you believe Yzerman is going to do anything constructive take a look at the last 7 yrs. Take for example this off-season and what he signed. JVR, Docker, Appleton, and Hamonic have combined for 5 goals and a total of 13 points along with 6 million $ Gibson who, has a GAA of 3.46 and a SV% 870. He keeps prospects in the minors while keeping the likes of Coop, Compher, Raz, Sod on the team who have combined for 7 goals and a total of 21 points. How can any team win long term with these players. I posted basically this back in September, but the Yzerlickers got their panties in a bunch over the posting. Maybe now they have a better understanding of these great signings.
If Kasper and Danielson would actually shoot the puck, that might help. But the real help needs to come from Yzerman, who has $10M or $11M in cap space available. He needs to take action and get some honest-to-goodness scoring into the lineup.
So true.
Those 3 guys are working their asses off every single game. Only injuries can slow them down. If they can keep this kind of effort going they can carry them for awhile. They need guys to join them for sure, but Finnie looks like a guy who can do it. Not sure what’s up with Kasper but he’s been more engaged lately and trying to be a pest so that’s good. Danielson makes the team better even when he’s not scoring, but He doesn’t look ready to break out any time soon. They definitely still need the dynamic 2nd line center they’ve been missing since Z and Pav left. It would make a huge difference for this team.