Red Wings 2026-27 Lineup Projection 1.0

Moving down to the second line, I have Arvidsson taking Patrick Kane’s place alongside Alex DeBrincat and Andrew Copp. Kane is still unsigned and could return to Detroit, and doing so would trigger lineup adjustments. But in the interim, Arvidsson’s high-compete game and ability to generate quality chances could blend nicely with DeBrincat and Copp.

Detroit’s bottom six could take on many forms this season. Here, I have J.T. Compher centering Marco Kasper and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard as a third scoring line, plus Michael Rasmussen between Kolesar and Carter Mazur, which would be more of a physical and high-energy checking line. Mazur could also slide up to skate alongside Kasper and Brandsegg-Nygard and provide the Red Wings with a young, hungry energy line with a scoring touch.

The main point here is that there’s flexibility in the bottom six. Todd McLellan noted previously that he wants these lines to have an identity moving forward. Different combinations produce different identities – it’s just a matter of how McLellan wants to deploy these forwards on a given night.

On defense, it’s more of the same. The one caveat is that the Red Wings could send Axel Sandin-Pellikka to Grand Rapids, where he would play impact minutes for the Griffins. There, he can further refine the defensive side of his game playing by in all situations. In that case, newly signed Jacob Bryson would take Sandin Pellikka’s place on the NHL roster.

Alternative Red Wings Lineup Without Larkin

Here’s a look at how the Red Wings could line up if Larkin is dealt for prospects and picks or if he would rather sit at home than play another game in Detroit. 

Note: Steve Yzerman has made it clear that he wants NHL players in return for Larkin, so this hypothetical more so refers to a possibility that a team offers a futures-based trade package that is too good to refuse.

This is not the lineup of a playoff-bound team, which goes against the franchise’s objective to improve each year. The reality, though, is that a Larkin-less Red Wings team will likely take a step back in 2026-27 unless Detroit receives high-quality NHL players in return for their 1C.

Final Word

Detroit took care of business on July 1 when they brought in Arvidsson, Kolesar, and Tarasov. The acquisitions—especially Arvidsson and Kolesar—directly address Detroit’s goals of becoming harder to play against and scoring more at five on five.

There’s still work to be done, though. Simon Edvinsson needs a contract. Re-signing Kane is still a possibility. And, of course, Larkin’s trade request continues to cast a shadow over Hockeytown. 

Overall, Detroit’s offseason has already started to reshape the roster, but the lineup still feels more like a working draft than a finished product. Whether it’s a Kane reunion, additional moves from Yzerman, or a resolution to the Larkin situation, the Red Wings’ opening night lineup could still look significantly different by the time the puck drops.