Red Wings 2025-26 roster projection 1.0

Surely, Detroit Red Wings fans expected more fireworks the week leading up to the Fourth of July. That was not the case, though.

Detroit took a conservative approach with this year’s free-agent class — one that was thin to begin with and lost several marquee names before the July 1 kickoff.

In all, the Red Wings made 11 transactions over the last few days, including:

• Acquired G John Gibson from Anaheim for G Petr Mrazek, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick
• Traded RW Vladimir Tarasenko to Minnesota for future considerations
• Re-signed LD Albert Johansson to a two-year, $1.125 million AAV contract
• Re-signed LW Jonatan Berggren to a one-year, $1.825 million contract
• Re-signed RW Patrick Kane to a one-year, $3 million contract (with up to $4 million in additional performance bonuses)
• Signed RD Ian Mitchell to a one-year, $775,000 contract
• Signed RD Jacob Bernard-Docker to a one-year, $875,000 contract
• Signed LW James van Riemsdyk to a one-year, $1 million contract
• Signed LW John Leonard to a one-year, $775,000 contract
• Re-signed LW Elmer Soderblom to a two-year, $1.125 million AAV contract.
• Signed RW Mason Appleton to a two-year, $2.9 million AAV contract

Now, with things winding down, we’ve reached a point where we can project an initial roster for the 2025-26 season. There may be some tweaks here and there before training camp, but that’s a topic for another day.

So, without further ado, here’s a first look at the 2025-26 Red Wings.

Red Wings Projected Roster for 2025-26

With Appleton, van Riemsdyk and Bernard-Docker now aboard, here’s how Detroit’s lines and pairs could look.

First and foremost, the lineup will fluctuate throughout the year. Lines and pairings are not set in stone. This is simply how I see Detroit lining up for Game 1. 

As it currently stands, the Red Wings have five top-six forwards: Larkin, Raymond, DeBrincat, Kane and Kasper. 

For everyone else on the roster, a top-six role would be an overslot. Someone needs to be penciled into that sixth spot, though. For now, I have Soderblom there. If the Red Wings are unable to add another bona fide top-six forward, we could see a rotating cast in that final spot throughout the year, including cameos from Copp, van Riemsdyk, Compher and others.

The bottom six is pretty interchangeable. Here, I have van Riemsdyk, Copp and Appleton as a heavy identity line. You could also swap Rasmussen with Appleton and give Compher’s line a little more skill.