The Detroit Red Wings have been busy this offseason, making moves in the draft and on the trade market to improve their roster for the 2025-26 season. Here's a recap of the latest news and rumors surrounding the team:
2025 NHL Draft Recap
The Red Wings entered the 2025 NHL Draft looking to add talent to their prospect pool, and by all accounts, they had a successful draft. With the 13th overall pick, Detroit selected forward Carter Bear from the Western Hockey League (WHL). General Manager Steve Yzerman described Bear as a high-skill and excellent overall player. Bear is a two-way forward who can play both center and wing, known for his strong work ethic and ability to create plays. In 56 games this past season, he recorded 40 goals, 42 assists, and 82 points.
On day two of the draft, Detroit selected seven more players:
The Red Wings also made a couple of trades involving draft picks, acquiring additional selections in future drafts.
John Gibson Acquisition
In a significant move to address their goaltending situation, the Red Wings acquired veteran goalie John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks. Detroit sent Petr Mrazek, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick to Anaheim in exchange for Gibson. There was no salary retained in the trade.
Gibson, 31, has spent his entire 12-year NHL career with the Ducks. While his performance dipped in recent years as the Ducks went through a rebuilding process, he had a strong 2024-25 season, posting a .911 save percentage in 29 games. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is counting on Gibson to provide quality starts and upgrade the team's goaltending.
Gibson has a $6.4 million cap hit for the next two seasons. He joins Cam Talbot and top prospect Sebastian Cossa in the Red Wings' goaltending mix. It remains to be seen whether Gibson will be the starter or share time with Talbot, while Cossa continues to develop.
Other Offseason Priorities
In addition to the draft and the Gibson trade, the Red Wings have other priorities this offseason. One key area is to improve their even-strength goal scoring, which ranked near the bottom of the league in 2024-25. Another priority is to add a top-four caliber defenseman to their roster. With Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson as the only top-four defensemen currently on the roster.
The Red Wings have a number of options to address these needs, including free agency and trades. They have a decent amount of cap space to work with, but face competition from other teams. Some potential targets include forwards Sam Bennett and Alex Laferriere, as well as defensemen Nick Perbix.
The Red Wings are also looking to re-sign Patrick Kane, who is an unrestricted free agent. Kane provided a boost to the team's offense after being acquired last season, and the Red Wings are optimistic they can bring him back.
Overall, the Red Wings are aiming to build a tougher team that is more productive offensively. The team's development camp is scheduled for June 30-July 3 at Little Caesars Arena.
