The NHL is on Olympic break — and the Detroit Red Wings are sitting third in the Atlantic Division.

But what does that actually mean?

According to Max Bultman’s latest mailbag, the Eastern Conference cut line may land closer to 99 points this year — not the 91–92 we’ve seen recently. That makes the simple “.500 hockey gets you in” narrative a little too comfortable.

In this episode of Red Wings Rant, we break down:

• Why 96 points might not be enough • Why Columbus is the real threat right now • The importance of staying in the divisional seed vs falling to wild card • Ideal playoff matchups (Montreal? Buffalo?) • Nightmare scenarios (Tampa or Carolina) • Whether Yzerman actually adds at the deadline this year • John Gibson’s extension debate • And why MLB is suddenly broadcasting the Detroit Red Wings after the FanDuel Sports bankruptcy

Detroit controls its destiny — for now.

#LGRW #DetroitRedWings #NHLPlayoffs #AtlanticDivision #MaxBultman

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The Red Wings head into the Olympic break with their goals still in sight — and their biggest questions unresolved.

Detroit closed the pre-break stretch by proving two very different things. First, they showed their ceiling by shutting out Colorado, becoming the first team all season to hold the Avalanche scoreless while limiting them to their lowest high-danger chance output of the year. Then, just days later, a 4–1 loss to Utah — with the lone goal coming on the power play — reminded everyone where this team remains vulnerable.

We break down why the Colorado win mattered so much, how Detroit locked down one of the NHL’s most dangerous offenses, and why that response prevented a potential skid heading into the break. We also discuss what the Utah loss revealed about Detroit’s ongoing struggle to generate consistent five-on-five offense, especially when space tightens.

Using insight from Max Bultman, we take stock of where the Red Wings stand at the Olympic break:

• Why the defense and goaltending give Detroit a real floor

• How the lack of five-on-five scoring remains the biggest concern

• What Jacob Bernard-Docker’s recent play alongside Moritz Seider says about growing stability

• Why waiting for Simon Edvinsson’s return matters

• And how the trade deadline conversation is shifting from urgency to restraint

This isn’t a panic point — it’s a pause. The Olympic break gives Detroit time to reset, evaluate, and decide how aggressive to be before March 6.

The Red Wings have proven they can defend with anyone. Now they have to answer the harder question: can they score when it matters most?

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Simon Edvinsson is out through the Olympic break — and the Red Wings just got a real test.

Detroit followed up an 8-1-1 stretch with a tight, frustrating 3–1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, a team built to choke off offense and win on the margins. The result wasn’t panic-worthy — but it was revealing.

We break down what Edvinsson’s injury actually changes, why the Kings were able to make Detroit look sloppy without dominating play, and how two defensive lapses ultimately decided the game. We also dig into why breaking up the Albert Johansson–Jacob Bernard-Docker pairing mattered, and what that tells us about blue-line certainty heading toward the trade deadline.

Using insight from Max Bultman, plus postgame comments from Todd McLellan, we separate urgency from execution and ask the bigger question:
Does this stretch clarify what Steve Yzerman needs to add — or confirm patience is still the right play?

We also cover:

• Why LA’s defensive structure flatlined Detroit’s offense
• Power-play struggles and five-on-five creation concerns
• John Gibson’s continued grip on the starting net
• What the Kings, Capitals, and Avalanche games reveal about playoff readiness

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The Red Wings are winning, developing internally, and staring straight at a trade market that’s getting more expensive by the day.

We start with a quick results check, including Detroit’s win over San Jose, the OT win against Ottawa, and tonight’s game vs. Toronto (updated after puck drop). Marco Kasper’s breakout performance against the Sharks is a key part of that conversation, raising an important question as the deadline approaches: how much help does Detroit truly need from outside versus growth from within?

From there, we pivot to the trade market.

With Rasmus Andersson off the board and the Feb. 4 Olympic roster freeze looming, early trades are carrying a premium. Using The Score’s updated trade board as context, we break down why January has quietly become the new deadline — and why Detroit can’t afford to chase urgency.

• Why Detroit can’t overpay Early buyers are paying more to beat the freeze. The Wings need discipline, not panic, especially with their recent form and internal momentum.
• The Olympic freeze effect How roster certainty, leverage, and timing are inflating prices — and why patience may actually be Detroit’s advantage.
• Defense options after Andersson Who realistically fits the Wings’ blue-line needs without mortgaging the future:

• Dougie Hamilton
• Justin Faulk

• Forward upgrades worth discussing Skill, grit, and lineup impact — not just name recognition:

• Vincent Trocheck
• Elias Pettersson
• Jordan Kyrou
• Robert Thomas

The bottom line:
The Red Wings are in a position of leverage. They don’t need to win January — they need to make the right move. This episode is about how Detroit can upgrade its defense, add grit scoring if needed, and still avoid paying the Olympic tax.

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The Detroit Red Wings remain firmly in the Atlantic Division race — and this week proved why.

Detroit delivered two massive statement wins, blanking the red-hot Montreal Canadiens 4–0 on the road and gutting out an overtime victory against the Carolina Hurricanes, another Eastern Conference heavyweight. Those weren’t flukes — they were games where the Wings showed structure, composure, and the ability to shut teams down.

Detroit’s 3–0 loss to the Boston Bruins looks ugly on the surface, but context matters. This was the second night of a back-to-back after an emotional overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes, followed by travel from Detroit to Boston. The third period turned into a possession nightmare, and it was clear the legs were gone. Not a great performance — but not a true reflection of who this team has been all season. Sometimes fatigue wins, and this felt like one of those nights.

We also dig into trade chatter after Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts that Detroit is among the frontrunners for Rasmus Andersson. His raw numbers don’t jump off the page, but when you factor in his workload as Calgary’s No. 1 defenseman, the fit in Detroit — behind Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson — gets very interesting.

Nex, we discuss the unexpected name surfacing around the league: Dougie Hamilton. After being scratched in New Jersey and trade noise picking up, does his offensive upside outweigh the $9M cap hit and term? And would Detroit even want to commit long-term?

Looking ahead, Detroit gets a chance to reset with games against the San Jose Sharks and the Ottawa Senators. After handling Ottawa on the road just a week ago, the question now is simple: do the Senators come in desperate for revenge, or does Detroit continue to assert itself as the more complete team? These are the kinds of games that matter in the standings — opportunities to bank points, control pace, and prove that the Wings belong in the top tier of the Atlantic.

Big wins, smart context, and real trade talk — let’s rant.

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The Red Wings are still winning — but the path hasn’t been clean.

In this extended episode of Red Wings Rant, we break down a critical stretch that includes back-to-back losses to Pittsburgh, a controversial but important win over Ottawa, and what those games reveal about where Detroit actually stands.

The Wings were thoroughly out-chanced against the Penguins at five-on-five, posting just a 38.4% expected-goals share. Against Ottawa, they flipped the script on the scoreboard — despite MoneyPuck giving them only a 27% chance to win — by capitalizing on mistakes, special teams, and timely goaltending.

That contrast leads to the real question: not “is it sustainable?” — but how good teams find ways to survive when they don’t have their best game.

We dig into:

• Why Detroit’s underlying numbers vs. Pittsburgh are more concerning than the final scores • Todd McLellan’s blunt assessment of what went wrong — and what must improve • Why Ottawa was the perfect “response test” opponent • What winning ugly actually tells us about structure, goaltending, and maturity • Growing concerns around the top line of Larkin, Raymond, and Emmitt Finnie • Whether Finnie’s stamina is catching up and if it’s time for a new look • Marco Kasper’s role — and whether a reset in Grand Rapids makes sense • Andrew Copp’s December surge as Detroit’s unsung stabilizer • How Moritz Seider’s all-around impact continues to anchor this team • Trade deadline pressure and why Detroit should be part of impact conversations • Two potential fits if the Wings choose to be aggressive: Alex Tuch and Justin Faulk • Why Heated Rivalry matters for hockey culture — and why this conversation belongs in the sport right now

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The Red Wings are rolling — and Moritz Seider is driving the bus.

In this short pre-game episode before puck drop against the Stars, we break down Detroit’s back-to-back wins over the Washington Capitals, capped by Seider’s overtime game-winner and another dominant weekend from Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond.

The Wings are now first in the Atlantic by points and points percentage, tied for third-most regulation wins in the Eastern Conference, and — most importantly — winning games the right way, not by sneaking into overtime.

5-on-5 (Dec 1–23):

• 10.44% shooting percentage
• 92.47% save percentage
• 1.029 PDO (top-tier puck luck and performance)

• 12.62% shooting percentage
• 91.29% save percentage
• 1.039 PDO

• 4th-best high-danger save percentage in the NHL
• Best medium-danger shooting percentage in the league

• Why the Washington wins matter against one of the NHL’s elite defensive teams
• Moritz Seider leading the entire NHL in Goals Above Replacement (GAR)
  • What GAR actually measures
  • Why it belongs in the Norris and Hart Trophy conversation
• Andrew Copp’s resurgence since returning from core surgery and stabilizing the second line
• DeBrincat and Raymond producing at a true point-per-game pace
• A quick look at John Leonard’s hot start, what’s real, and what will cool off

Red Wings Rant: Where tirades and impassioned pleas about your Detroit Red Wings finally have a home.

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The Red Wings are back in first place in the Atlantic — but the path there hasn’t been clean.

This week on Red Wings Rant, we break down a wildly successful West Coast road trip, including shutout wins in Vancouver and Chicago, a statement victory over the Islanders, and why the Utah Mammoth loss looks more like a fatigue-driven anomaly than a warning sign.

December has quietly become Detroit’s regression-to-the-mean month, with top-tier PDO, shooting percentage, and goaltending metrics finally catching up to the underlying play. But the biggest conversation looms larger than any single game.

Did the Red Wings miss a once-in-a-decade opportunity by not landing Quinn Hughes?

Using reporting from Max Bultman, Sean Shapiro, Elliotte Friedman, and Pierre LeBrun, we dive into what the Hughes non-trade says about Steve Yzerman’s risk tolerance, the value of elite stars versus prospect depth, and whether Detroit is doing enough to capitalize on Dylan Larkin’s prime years.

This is the most honest Red Wings conversation yet — the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable middle.

Red Wings Rant: Where tirades and impassioned pleas about your Detroit Red Wings finally have a home.

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Let’s have fun!

Sponsored by Draft Kings!

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Episode sponsored by Draft Kings. Use promo code 'THPN' to unlock exclusive offers when you sign up!

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