NHL EDGE stats 2026-27 season outlook for Detroit Red Wings

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, we will identify key NHL EDGE stats for each team to preview the 2026-27 season. Today, we look at three advanced metrics trends surrounding the Detroit Red Wings:

1. Seider’s 2-way prowess

At 25 years old, Moritz Seider is the cornerstone of the Red Wings on both ends of the ice in terms of some key advanced metrics. Seider ranked fourth in the entire NHL in total skating distance (299.85 miles) last season behind Connor McDavid (330.27), Quinn Hughes (307.46) and Ivan Provorov (299.86), and was in the 93rd percentile among defensemen in both hardest shot (98.93 mph) and average shot speed (72.70).

Seider’s consistent shot speed translated to his perimeter offense; he ranked second in the entire NHL in long-range shots on goal (115; behind Darren Raddysh’s 130) and was tied for fourth in the entire League in long-range goals (six). He also was a standout among defensemen in mid-range shots on goal (38; 94th percentile) and mid-range goals (four; 88th percentile).

Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond, on a similar note, ranked in the 92nd percentile in average shot speed (60.53 mph) and, as a result, was a standout among forwards in perimeter offense; he was in the 92nd percentile at his position in mid-range shots on goal (71) and 89th percentile in both mid-range goals (nine) and long-range shots on goal (19). Detroit, as a team, ranked highly in 70-plus mph shot attempts (1,575; ninth) and average shot speed (58.58; 12th) last season. Like with Seider, that speed translated to the long-range category, where the Red Wings ranked sixth in long-range shots on goal (508) and 11th in long-range goals (20).

Although the Red Wings missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th straight season (longest active postseason drought in NHL), Seider’s strong underlying metrics helped goalie John Gibson’s cause in his first season after being traded to Detroit from the Anaheim Ducks last offseason. Seider ranked fourth in the entire League in blocked shots (180) last season and led Detroit skaters in 5-on-5 shot attempts percentage (53.2 percent), while Gibson ranked 10th in quality starts (27; starts with greater than .900 save percentage).

2. Shots-by-location standouts

The Red Wings found balance in their top-six forward group with top center Dylan Larkin playing mostly with Raymond, on a separate line from Alex DeBrincat (was mostly on second line). Both DeBrincat, who led the Red Wings with 41 goals (tied career high) last season, and Larkin, who was second on the team with 34 (set career high in category despite only playing 74 games), are elite goal-scorers with robust shots-by-location profiles.

DeBrincat, who led Detroit and set an NHL career high in points (85) last season, ranked third in the entire League in midrange shots on goal (118) and ranked in the 94th percentile or higher in high-danger shots on goal (78; 94th percentile), long-range shots on goal (32; 98th percentile), high-danger goals (20; 97th percentile) and midrange goals (12; 95th percentile). DeBrincat also quietly made a significant impact on the defensive end; he was tied for ninth in the entire NHL in takeaways (43) last season.

Larkin, meanwhile, ranked highly among forwards in shots-by-location categories, from high-danger shots on goal (93; 98th percentile) to high-danger goals (17; 94th percentile), long-range shots on goal (22; 92nd percentile), mid-range goals (nine; 89th percentile) and mid-range shots on goal (64; 89th percentile). Larkin requested a trade after last season, which became public knowledge June 4, but remains on Detroit’s roster. Any potential trade involving Larkin would have a ripple effect on the Red Wings’ center depth and advanced stats outlook. Another development in the Larkin situation is that Steve Yzerman is transitioning out of his as general manager and executive vice president; he will continue serving the organization as senior adviser to owner Chris Ilitch, but there is uncertainty surrounding both the Larkin situation and GM search.

3. Power-play offensive zone time

One of the strong points of the Red Wings offense last season was the power play; Detroit ranked 12th in power-play percentage (22.6 percent) and fourth in power-play offensive zone time percentage (60.6 percent). Seider ranked eighth among NHL defensemen in power-play offensive zone time percentage (61.6 percent), while the team’s most-frequent first power play forwards had even higher rates in that category (Larkin: 62.8; DeBrincat 62.6; Raymond: 62.2). This trend helped the Red Wings have two of the NHL’s leaders in power-play goals last season in DeBrincat (15; tied for seventh) and Larkin (14; tied for 10th).​

However, between the Larkin situation, the departure of veteran forward Patrick Kane (signed with Chicago Blackhawks this offseason) and James van Riemsdyk (seven power-play goals for Detroit last season; tied for third on team) being an unsigned unrestricted free agent, the power play could have a much different look this season. One young player on the roster who could benefit from a bigger role with the man-advantage is forward Emmitt Finnie, who ranked in the 91st percentile at his position in high-danger shots on goal (70) last season.