Detroit Red Wings 2025-26 grades feature some A’s, some D’s

There was a little moment of levity at the end of the press conference held by general manager Steve Yzerman and coach Todd McLellan to discuss the 2025-26 Detroit Red Wings.

They had just wrapped up about 45 minutes of answering reporters’ questions on Thursday, April 23 when a last, lighthearted one was lobbed at McLellan. He’d been fidgeting with his notebook, and was asked if reporters could see it. “You won’t be able to read it,” McLellan said, smiling.

“It’s not worth looking at,” Yzerman said, laughing. “I’ve seen it all year.”

Ultimately, the notes on this season’s squad could be summed up by three words: iot good enough. That’s as a group. Individually, some players fared well in their final grades – Alex DeBrincat, for one, aced things with the way he competed and produced.

Here, then, are the final grades for the men who finished the season with the Red Wings.

F Mason Appleton: D

Stats: 6 goals, 8 assists, minus-4 rating in 65 games.

Contract: $2.9 million average annual value through 2026-27.

Buzz: Was supposed bring an edge and a bit of scoring, but made next to no impact in the second half, with just three points from the start of January.

D Jacob Bernard-Docker: C

Stats: 1 goal, 4 assists, even rating in 63 games.

Contract: $1.6 million AAV through 2027-28.

Buzz: Serviceable third-pairing defenseman.

D Ben Chiarot: B

Stats: 5 goals, 10 assists, minus-9 in 82 games.

Contract: $3.85 million AAV through 2028-29.

The buzz: Generally gives a hard effort, and plays with an edge.

F J.T. Compher: D

Stats: 11 goals, 17 assists, minus-13 in 82 games.

Contract: $5.1 million AAV through 2027-28.

Buzz: Not good enough to play in the top six, doesn’t contribute enough in the bottom six.

F Andrew Copp: C+

Stats: 9 goals, 34 assists, plus-3 in 79 games.

Contract: $5.625 million AAV through 2026-27.

Buzz: Found a role centering the second line but needs to be more consistent.

F Alex DeBrincat: A

Stats: 41 goals, 44 assists, plus-8 in 82 games.

Contract: $7.875 million AAV through 2026-27.

Buzz: Shows up every shift, always plays competitive hockey and the most consistent scoring threat on the team.

D Simon Edvinsson: B+

Stats: 9 goals, 16 assists, plus-12 in 72 games.

Contract: Restricted free agent.

Buzz: Big and rangy and works hard, but really needs to work on taking fewer penalties, because he had some doozies.

D Justin Faulk: B

Stats: 5 goals, 3 assists, minus-5 in 17 games with Wings.

Contract: $6.5 million AAV through 2026-27.

Buzz: Came in at the trade deadline and immediately improved the top-four defense corps at both ends of the ice.

F Emmitt Finnie: B+

Stats: 13 goals, 17 assists, minus-10 in 82 games.

Contract: $821,667 AAV through 2027-28.

Buzz: The rookie overall did well, though there were times during the season the former seventh-round pick faded. Much more suited to playing on a third line than on the first.

G John Gibson: A-

Stats: 29-22-4 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 57 games.

Contract: $6.4 million AAV through 2027-28.

Buzz: Let’s be clear – since he found his groove at Thanksgiving, Gibson was the reason the Wings looked like they were going to make the playoffs. He bailed out his teammates time and again, only slipping a bit towards the end.

D Travis Hamonic: D

Stats: 2 assists, minus-11 in 26 games.

Contract: Unrestricted free agent.

Buzz: Spent most of his time as a healthy scratch.

D Albert Johansson: C+

Stats: 3 goals, 8 assists, minus-18 in 82 games.

Contract: $1.125 million AAV through 2026-27.

Buzz: Could be harder against opponents considering he does not see top matchups.

F Patrick Kane: B+

Stats:  16 goals, 41 assists, minus-1 in 67 games.

Contract: Unrestricted free agent.

Buzz: The 37-year-old was the team’s second-leading scorer with 25 points the last 26 games (behind DeBrincat’s 28). A clutch performer whose biggest issue is staying healthy, but at around $3 million, he’s well worth the investment.

F Marco Kasper: C-

Stats: 9 goals, 10 assists, minus-20 in 81 games.

Contract: $886,666 AAV through 2026-27.

Buzz: There was a slight uptick in his second-half play, but all in all, a disappointing sophomore season from a player the Wings hope can develop into a solid two-way center.

F Dylan Larkin: B+

Stats: 34 goals, 33 assists, plus-3 in 74 games.

Contract: $8.7 million AAV through 2030-31.

Buzz: Dealt with injuries down the stretch, but his work ethic never faltered. For those who don’t think he’s a No. 1 center, name 32 who are better.

F Carter Mazur: C+

Stats: No points, minus-3 in eight games.

Contract: Restricted free agent.

Buzz: Brought energy, but was put in a tough position when he was asked to help a team flailing after his call-up in late March.

F David Perron: D

Stats: 3 goals, minus-9 in 16 games with the Wings.

Contract: Unrestricted free agent.

Buzz: After undergoing sports hernia surgery in January, the trade-deadline acquisition just wasn’t able to bring the energy or scoring the Wings sought from their popular former teammate.

F Michael Rasmussen: D

Stats: 6 goals, 8 assists, minus-10 in 64 games.

Contract: $3.2 million AAV through 2027-28.

Buzz: Doesn’t bring nearly enough to the lineup. Had one point in the 28 games from Jan. 1 to the end of the season.

F Lucas Raymond: B

Stats: 25 goals, 51 assists, plus-1 in 80 games.

Contract: $8.075 million AAV through 2031-32.

Buzz: For a second straight year, he faltered coming out of an international event in February (4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, Olympics in 2026), with just 16 points the last 24 games.

D Axel Sandin-Pellikka: C

Stats: 7 goals, 14 assists, minus-20 in 68 games.

Contract: $918,333 AAV through 2027-28.

Buzz: Tons of talent, but the rookie’s risky maneuvers were anxiety-inducing.

D Moritz Seider: A

Stats: 10 goals, 50 assists, plus-15 in 82 games.

Contract: $8.55 million AAV through 2030-31.

The buzz: An absolute gem who delivers in all facets of the game. Had a career season, stats-wise

F Dominik Shine: C+

Stats: 3 goals, even rating in 18 games.

Contract: $875,000 AAV through 2027-28.

Buzz: Provided energy as a grinder.

G Cam Talbot: C

Stats:  12-9-6 with a 3.19 GAA and .883 save percentage in 34 games.

Contract: Unrestricted free agent.

Buzz: Wasn’t relied on much down the stretch and faced some tough assignments.

F James van Riemsdyk: C

Stats: 15 goals, 16 assists, minus-17 in 72 games.

Contract: Unrestricted free agents.

Buzz: 15 goals for $1 million (his salary in 2025-26) is quite respectable, but there was only one goal after the Olympic break. Plays big and goes to the net, like Tomas Holmstrom could attest, but he can’t be effective in that spot if teammates don’t get the puck there.

Coaching staff: B

Buzz: Todd McLellan and his staff emphasized three things from the start of camp: Be tougher to play against physically, mental toughness and game management. There were signs of improvement and resilience from players, but also signs of not being able to implement those facets when it mattered most – in March and April. McLellan and his staff has done the utmost to hold players accountable, and the failure to reach the playoffs reflects much more on players than McLellan.

Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com.

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Her books: “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings, A Curated History of Hockeytown,” and “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.