Detroit Red Wings Defense Responsible for Team’s Failure

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Andrew Walsh | Last updated Dec 1, 2025 2:03 AM ET

The Detroit Red Wings have had an up-and-down start to the 2025-26 NHL season. This is the first full season under head coach Todd McLellan, with a record of 13-11-1. Before the recent game against the New Jersey Devils, which the Red Wings lost by a score of 4-3, the Red Wings were in first place in the Atlantic Division. However, with three straight losses, the Red Wings have fallen out of a playoff spot on the American Thanksgiving date, which is historically a benchmark for whether a team will make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Whether or not that statistic holds for the 2025-26 NHL season remains to be seen.

With that in mind, what is holding the Red Wings back? Star defenseman Moritz Seider is wearing an A on his sweater full-time this season. Recently, the Zelle, Germany native, set the Red Wings’ franchise record for most multi-assist games before turning 25 years old with 33. Seider has not missed a game in the 4+ seasons of his NHL career. The issue with the Red Wings’ roster has been finding a suitable partner on the blue line for Seider. Veteran defenseman Ben Chiarot played most of the defensive minutes with Seider this season.

Mo apples pic.twitter.com/LKVmGntWiF
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 26, 2025

The Red Wings have leaned on veteran goaltending as they continue to wait for 2021 NHL Draft pick Sebastian Cossa to make it to the NHL roster full-time. John Gibson was acquired by the Red Wings from the Anaheim Ducks in July in exchange for goaltender Petr Mrazek and two draft picks. Gibson has a 3.46 goals-against average in 12 games played so far this season, along with an .870 save percentage.

Veteran Cam Talbot has been the backup to Gibson. Talbot has a 9-3 record with a 2.79 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage. At 38 years old, Talbot can provide a veteran presence for Gibson. It would not be wise for the team to bring up Cossa. In the meantime, Cossa has played well this season. In eight games, Cossa has a 7-1 record for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League with a 1.76 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage this season.

The captain of the Red Wings, Dylan Larkin, is playing some of his best hockey this season. In 24 games played for the Red Wings during the 2025-26 season. This season, Larkin scored 13 goals and added 13 assists. This is one more goal than Alex DeBrincat has in 25 games played. This is the 11^th season that Larkin has played for the Red Wings. Despite this, the Waterford, Michigan, native has only played in five playoff games in his career.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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