Inside look at Detroit Red Wings

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the Detroit Red Wings.

The Detroit Red Wings hope to take another step in their rebuild this season after making several offseason additions, highlighted by two-time 40-goal scorer Alex DeBrincat.

"You see a team that's maybe frustrated with being in a rebuild and wants to get out," DeBrincat said. "I'm excited to be here and kind of join that and hopefully be part of the solution to get out of that. I'm just really excited to join these guys, and I definitely see the potential in this group."

The Red Wings have not made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for seven straight seasons, tying the longest drought (1970-77) in their 97-year history.

But after bottoming out with 39 points in 71 games in 2019-20, their first season under general manager Steve Yzerman, they have improved steadily season by season. They had 48 points in 56 games in 2020-21, 74 points in 82 games in 2021-22 and 80 points in 82 games last season.

They held the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference on Feb. 23 last season before finishing 12 points behind the Florida Panthers.

Detroit was active in the offseason, adding DeBrincat, forwards J.T. Compher, Daniel Sprong, Klim Kostin and Christian Fischer; defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Justin Holl; and goalie James Reimer.

Scoring has been an issue for the Red Wings, who finished 24th in goals (237) last season and haven't had a 40-goal scorer since Marian Hossa in 2008-09.

DeBrincat has reached 41 goals twice, with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018-19 and 2021-22. He had 27 goals for the Ottawa Senators last season. That would have ranked second on the Red Wings behind Dylan Larkin (32).

"There just aren't a lot of them around the League, guys that can get it on their stick and any time they shoot it, it looks like it has a chance of going in," Yzerman said. "I think we categorize Alex in that mold, as a sniper. Just one shot can change a game."

Compher set NHL career highs in assists (35) and points (52) with the Colorado Avalanche last season, while Sprong set NHL career highs in goals (21), assists (25) and points (46) with the Seattle Kraken and Kostin set NHL career highs in goals (11), assists (10) and points (21) with the Edmonton Oilers.

Gostisbehere has had as many as 17 goals (with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015-16) and 65 points (with the Flyers in 2017-18). He had 51 points (14 goals, 37 assists) for the Arizona Coyotes as recently as 2021-22.

"I think the guys will feel good that we've added NHL-quality players to the roster, and we hope to be more competitive, and the players will feed off that," Yzerman said.

Compher is not afraid of the rebuild in Detroit. When he broke into the NHL with Colorado in 2016-17, the Avalanche finished last in the League. They won the Cup in 2022.

"I have been on both sides of it, and I know what it takes," Compher said. "I'm excited to be with this group and build towards the ultimate goal of winning a championship, and it starts with making the playoffs. I've been through it before and excited to take on this challenge as well."

Sprong has been through a turnaround before too. He ended the 2021-22 season with the Kraken, who finished 30th in the League in their inaugural season as an expansion team. Not only did they improve by 40 points and make the playoffs last season, but they came within a game of the Western Conference Final, losing to the Dallas Stars in Game 7 of the second round.

"I'm excited," Sprong said. "Detroit was only 12 points out of a playoff spot last year. You're talking about maybe a six-, seven-game swing here and there during the year. You don't want to get too high. You don't want to get too low. But you're not far out of the race. It's going to be a fight for playoffs, and I think that's everyone's goal in the organization this year."

Yzerman has managed expectations carefully, avoiding using the word "playoffs." But at minimum, the goal is more progress.

"I don't know where we're going to finish in the standings this year," Yzerman said. "I hope we're creeping forward."