An insider projection has the Detroit Red Wings finishing last in the Atlantic Division, and honestly, it's hard to argue given everything happening right now.
Jason Demers floated his early standings guess on X, slotting Florida first, Montreal second, and Detroit all the way down at eighth.
Detroit finished 41-31-10 for 92 points last season, 16th overall, respectable enough on paper. But respectable records don't usually come with this much organizational chaos attached.
It starts at the top. Steve Yzerman stepped away from the GM chair this summer, and Detroit still hasn't named a permanent replacement.
That vacancy matters more than it might for other franchises, because the biggest decision facing this organization, what to do with captain Dylan Larkin, is sitting unresolved without anyone holding full authority to close a deal.
Larkin posted 34 goals and 33 assists for 67 points in 74 games this season, and his trade request has dragged on for weeks with real reporting confirming it's stuck in place.
DeBrincat rumors add to Detroit's uncertain outlook
His full no-trade clause limits things to a short list of teams, reportedly Minnesota, Florida, and Vegas, and none of them have been willing to meet Detroit's asking price of a real first-line center in return.
Minnesota already tried and failed, walking away once Detroit saw the actual younger players the Wild were offering back.
Now add Alex DeBrincat to the pile. He's coming off a career year, 41 goals and 44 assists for 85 points, and Seattle has reportedly been circling him as a trade target too.
Unlike Larkin, DeBrincat has publicly said he wants to stay in Detroit, growing up in Michigan and calling it home. But his contract expires after this season, meaning Detroit needs a real plan, extension or trade, before he approaches unrestricted free agency with nothing decided.
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That's three separate storylines running simultaneously with no clear direction. A GM search still unresolved, a captain trying to force his way out, and a 40-goal winger whose future depends entirely on a front office that doesn't have a permanent decision-maker yet.
None of that inspires much confidence heading into a season where the Atlantic Division already looks stacked with contenders at the top.
Whether Detroit sorts any of this out before training camp, or simply drags all three storylines into the regular season, is exactly why a last-place prediction doesn't feel unreasonable right now.
Will the Red Wings actually finish last in the Atlantic Division this season?
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