The Detroit Red Wings find themselves between a rock and a hard place with just eight games remaining in their 2024-25 NHL season. With the team mired in an inconsistent slump amid a crucial stretch, star Patrick Kane voiced a strong statement for head coach Todd McLellan and the rest of the squad to listen to.
The race for the second wild card berth in the East is shaping up to be a thrilling battle between four contenders: the Canadiens, Rangers, Blue Jackets, and Red Wings. With the teams tightly packed in the standings, the race may come down to the final game of the season.
All four teams have shown they belong in the NHL postseason, but they’ve also had their fair share of concerning performances. However, none of that matters now. It’s all about winning—something Detroit has struggled with lately, at least when it comes to doing so consistently and building momentum.
Regardless, confidence inside McLellan‘s locker room remains unshaken. Kane delivered a powerful message to his teammates, hoping to ignite a spark within them.
“You can look at it and study it, but it comes down to winning hockey games ourselves,” Kane stated, via NHL.com. “We were talking about it, you win one game, you’re one point out. Suddenly, the Rangers and Canadiens win, and you’re three points out. So that’s just kind of the nature of the situation we’re in. Obviously, we’re going to need to have a good record here down the stretch.”
Weight on their shoulders
The Red Wings are carrying a heavy burden, as the organization’s repeated failures to build a playoff-caliber team have taken a toll on fans’ confidence. The Motor City faithful are almost afraid to get their hopes up, having endured nothing but disappointment over the past decade.
Detroit holds the second-longest active playoff drought in the NHL, having missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for eight straight seasons. The only team with a longer streak is the Buffalo Sabres, who have gone 13 seasons without a postseason appearance. Fortunately for the Red Wings, Buffalo sits below them in the standings, and their skid doesn’t seem likely to end this year.
Road ahead
The calendar won’t do Kane, McLellan, and Detroit any favors—they will face the toughest remaining schedule in the NHL from here onwards, according to Tankathon. Every team the Red Wings will take on next is currently sitting in a playoff spot.
Moreover, while Detroit faces eight do-or-die matchups against some of the league’s toughest opponents, Montreal—the team they need to surpass—has a far smoother path. The Canadiens boast the third-easiest remaining schedule, with only three of their final eight opponents currently in playoff position.
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Kane and the Red Wings better fasten their seatbelts—if they want to finally break their eight-season curse, they’ll need to rev up Motor City and hit full throttle.