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The Detroit Red Wings offseason storylines to watch in 2026 will be looking to address numerous issues plaguing the team this year.

The Detroit Red Wings‘ offseason storylines in 2026 will revolve predominantly around the club’s annual March meltdown. The meltdown cost Detroit a playoff spot while unleashing numerous questions about the team’s long-term viability.

Moreover, even more questions have emerged regarding the status of the rebuild. The so-called Yzerplan is now under even more scrutiny, with the organization vowing to improve.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the major storylines to keep an eye on during the 2026 offseason.

3 Red Wings Offseason Storylines

How to Avoid March Meltdown

The most evident Red Wings offseason storylines will revolve around avoiding another late-season collapse. The Wings’ skid in March and April led the club right out of a playoff spot. When the Red Wings needed to turn up the heat, they just couldn’t sustain the momentum. That lack of consistency eventually led Detroit to drop out of a postseason spot.

The biggest question now focuses on what the club could do to maintain a strong level of performance throughout the entire season. Of course, that’s something easier said than done. Regardless, the entire offseason discussion should drill down on finding ways of boosting the club’s overall consistency, particularly in the second half of the season.

Adding More Depth and Scoring

The Red Wings’ offseason storylines should also veer towards roster additions. While it’s easy to make a blanket statement like “we need more scoring,” or “more depth is necessary,” the fact is that the conversation should focus on those aspects.

In terms of scoring, GM Steve Yzerman made a point of needing more goals during his end-of-year presser. That seems evident to anyone following the team. The club struggled to score beyond its top six. Depth scoring just wasn’t there, prompting questions about the bottom six and its ability to generate more offense.

Speaking of depth, that will be another issue under consideration this offseason. The Red Wings will need more healthy bodies, as it was evident that several key players played hurt down the stretch (most notably, captain Dylan Larkin).

Red Wings Offseason Storylines Could Depend on Yzerman

The entire discussion revolving around the Red Wings’ offseason storylines could depend on Yzerman. While there really hasn’t been any talk of firing Yzerman, there has been a call for a change. That change could come with Yzerman moving up into a President of Hockey Operations role, with one of the assistant GMs taking over the full-time GM role.

That might be the most plausible way of getting some change in the organization’s managerial structure. Yzerman would remain at the helm, but in a much different role than now.

The likelihood of such a move is low at the moment. But there’s no telling just how much pressure Yzerman and the Red Wings could face to make changes ahead of next season.

If nothing changes in Detroit’s front office, the pressure will be on for the club to make something happen in the roster.

In the worst of cases, Yzerman could take a step back and allow a new GM to pull the trigger on whatever deals may become available. It will certainly be an interesting summer in the Motor City.