🏒 Opening Week with the Originals: Red Wings Begin a New Chapter

There’s something special about the Red Wings’ opening week 2025-26 — especially when it starts with two Original Six rivals. The Red Wings launch their season Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena against the Canadiens, then face the Maple Leafs twice, once at home on Saturday and again two days later on the road. That’s hockey history and tradition packed into the first three games — a fitting way to kick off Detroit’s Centennial season.

This year’s team should be faster, more dynamic, and a lot more fun to watch. But fans hoping for instant results might need to hang onto that word Steve Yzerman keeps repeating — patience. The roster is younger, and with that youth comes unpredictability. There will be growing pains, but there’s also legitimate excitement about the skill and energy these new faces bring. For a reminder of how Yzerman views this squat and the season, you can review his remarks here: Yzerman Live Stream.

Roster Breakdown: Youth Meets Experience

Detroit’s final 23-man roster features 13 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 2 goaltenders. It’s a balanced mix of veterans and rising talent — exactly the kind of group Yzerman and head coach Todd McLellan have been trying to build for the long term.

The Youth Movement

Three prospects cracked the opening-night lineup: Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka. All three impressed through training camp and preseason, earning their spots rather than being handed them.

Finnie, a late-round pick in 2023, turned heads during camp — showing poise, vision, and chemistry with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Brandsegg-Nygård brings two-way awareness and a relentless motor, while Sandin-Pellikka’s puck-moving ability adds a new element to Detroit’s defensive core. It’s a trio that represents the next wave of Red Wings hockey — young, fast, and eager to make their mark in the NHL..

Veteran Stability

Alongside the newcomers, the core remains familiar: Larkin, Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane, Andrew Copp, and J.T. Compher lead a forward group that looks deeper and more skilled than in recent years. On the back end, Moritz Seider anchors the blue line with support from Simon Edvinsson, Ben Chiarot, and Albert Johansson.

Veteran additions Jacob Bernard-Docker, Travis Hamonic, and Erik Gustafsson provide flexibility and experience, while Yzerman’s big offseason swing came in goal — trading for John Gibson to stabilize the crease. He’ll share duties with Cam Talbot, a proven veteran who can handle stretches of play if needed.

The draft hasn’t been kind to the WIngs lately, and has boxed them out of landing one true generational superstar. Yzerman has had to piece together a group of solid players, none of whom are in the upper echelon of the NHL. Patrick Kane is as talented as anyone, but his best years are behind him. Raymond and Seider are the future, and it’s fitting that both will wear the Assistant Captain (the “A”) designation on their jerseys this season.

Turning to the Captain, Larkin needs to demonstrate he can lead this team and help keep them focused. On most teams, he’s a second-line center, but he wears the ‘C,” which means he needs to elevate his game even more this year. I never felt he truly deserved the captaincy, and it was given to him in the absence of other qualified candidates. After falling short of the playoffs last year, Larkin complained that the team didn’t make moves to improve at the trade deadline. I doubt if Yzerman enjoyed the criticism, especially coming from the leader of his team. Apparently, they’ve cleared the air and are ready to move forward.

What This Week Will Tell Us

The first week won’t define the season, but it will tell us plenty about this team’s identity. Can the rookies handle real NHL pressure? Can Detroit sustain its faster pace over 60 minutes? Can Gibson look like the difference-maker he was brought in to be?

Fans have been patient for years, but that patience is wearing thin — Yzerman knows it, and so do the players. Still, his message remains consistent: progress comes before perfection. This isn’t a quick turnaround; it’s the next step toward something sustainable.

The Bottom Line

Opening week gives us everything we could ask for — tradition, intensity, and a chance to measure where this young Red Wings team really stands. Expect flashes of brilliance, a few mistakes, and plenty of storylines to watch as the new season unfolds.

Hockey’s back in Detroit. The lights are bright, the ice is fresh, and the puck is ready to drop on the 100th season of Red Wings Hockey! Go Wings!

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