Red Wings' Playoff Drought Reaches 10 Years, Sparking Frustration

Another late-season collapse leaves Detroit's hockey fans craving a team to cheer for again.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:13am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented hockey scene, with sharp planes of deep red, navy blue, and metallic silver representing the frustration and fragmentation of the Red Wings' prolonged playoff drought.The Red Wings' decade-long playoff drought has left Detroit hockey fans craving a team that can restore the city's championship pedigree.Today in Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings have officially missed the NHL playoffs for the 10th straight year, the longest active drought in the league. After blowing a late lead against the New Jersey Devils, the Red Wings were booed off the ice by frustrated fans in Hockeytown. Head coach Todd McLellan acknowledged the team's struggles to give the city's passionate hockey fans something to cheer about, as star players like Moritz Seider, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond expressed disappointment over another lost season.

Why it matters

The Red Wings' prolonged playoff drought has tested the patience of the team's loyal fanbase, who have grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress and the team's inability to end the skid. This season's missed opportunity, despite having one of the most talented rosters in years, has raised questions about the team's direction and the pressure on management to find solutions.

The details

The Red Wings' playoff drought dates back to the 2016-17 season, a result of the team's decision to bottom out and rebuild through the draft. While there were signs of progress in recent years, including an 80-point season in 2022-23 and a near-playoff berth in 2023-24, the Red Wings have consistently faltered down the stretch, including another late-season collapse this year after being tied for the conference lead in late January.

  • On April 11, 2026, the Red Wings were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
  • The Red Wings' playoff drought now stands at 10 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the NHL.

The players

Todd McLellan

The head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, who acknowledged the team's struggles to give the city's passionate hockey fans something to cheer about.

Moritz Seider

The Red Wings' star defenseman and alternate captain, who was seen fighting back emotion on the ice after the team's elimination.

Dylan Larkin

The Red Wings' captain, who was left sullen as he tried to process another lost season.

Lucas Raymond

The Red Wings' alternate captain, who expressed disappointment over the team's inability to end the playoff drought.

Steve Yzerman

The general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, who will be tasked with diagnosing the issues and determining the team's path forward.

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What they’re saying

“This is Detroit. This is Hockeytown. I've been lucky enough to be on the other side of it, when they couldn't stop cheering for this team. And they're dying for that, they crave that. That's what they want. And I don't even know if they want a Stanley Cup Championship anymore. They just want a team that's going to come in and give them something to cheer about.”

— Todd McLellan, Head Coach, Detroit Red Wings

“We've got to figure it out, and we've got to figure it out fast and take that next step. We've got to look ourselves in the mirror, everyone in here in this building, and we've got to be better than this.”

— Lucas Raymond, Alternate Captain, Detroit Red Wings

“It does undercut it. Progress, yes. It doesn't feel like it right now, though. That's for sure.”

— Dylan Larkin, Captain, Detroit Red Wings

What’s next

The Red Wings will face the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers in their final two games of the season, with the goal of earning at least one point to achieve their highest point total in the last decade. However, with the team's latest late-season collapse, the focus will quickly shift to the offseason, where general manager Steve Yzerman will need to diagnose the issues and determine the best path forward to end the franchise's prolonged playoff drought.

The takeaway

The Red Wings' 10-year playoff drought has become a source of immense frustration for the team's passionate fanbase, who are craving a competitive, playoff-caliber team that can restore the glory of Hockeytown. With the team's latest missed opportunity, despite having one of its most talented rosters in years, the pressure is mounting on the organization to find solutions and end the skid, or risk further alienating a fanbase that has grown increasingly disillusioned with the team's lack of progress.