Detroit’s sports teams are having a moment after a long decade of darkness. The Pistons have clinched a playoff spot for only the third time in the past 16 years, just one year after losing an NBA-record 28 games in a row. The Tigers, led by Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, snapped a 10-year playoff drought in 2024 and came within one win of reaching the ALCS. And the Lions followed up an NFC championship game appearance in 2023 with a 15-win season the year after.

But the Detroit Red Wings remain in the wilderness, having now missed the playoffs for a franchise-record nine consecutive seasons. Much like last season, when the Wings missed the playoffs by the tiebreaker, they showed flashes of promise in 2024-25, but a dreadful collapse in March was too much to overcome. They’ll finish with fewer points than they did a season ago, taking a measurable step backward in the rebuild.

As players, coaches and GM Steve Yzerman reflect on this disappointing season, doom is settling in with a fan base that is grappling with the reality that these Red Wings, as constructed, may have already peaked as a group.

And it hasn’t been good enough to even make the playoffs, let alone challenge for the Stanley Cup.

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