Red Wings Suffer 56-Year Low After Missing 2026 Playoffs

Once a dominant NHL franchise, Detroit endures longest active playoff drought

Apr. 12, 2026 at 8:50pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting breaking down a Red Wings hockey game into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, with the team's iconic logo barely visible among the abstract forms.The Red Wings' season-long collapse is reflected in a cubist, deconstructed painting that captures the team's fragmented and disjointed play.Today in Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings, a storied NHL franchise with 11 Stanley Cup championships, have hit a new low point after missing the 2026 playoffs. Despite leading their division and conference in points in late January, the Red Wings collapsed down the stretch, extending their playoff drought to 10 years - the longest active drought in the league.

Why it matters

The Red Wings' struggles are a major disappointment for their passionate fan base in Hockeytown, who have grown accustomed to their team competing for championships. This prolonged drought raises questions about the team's direction and ability to return to their former glory.

The details

The Red Wings' 2025-26 campaign was marked by a stunning free-fall, as they became just the second team in NHL history to have 69+ points through 53 games and still miss the playoffs. After leading their division and the Eastern Conference in late January, the Red Wings lost 7 of their final 10 games to fall out of playoff position.

  • On January 25, the Red Wings were leading the Atlantic Division and tied for the most points in the Eastern Conference, with a 12-point playoff cushion: 32-16-5 (69 points).
  • By April 5, the Red Wings had collapsed and missed the playoffs, extending their drought to 10 years - the longest active playoff drought in the NHL.

The players

Todd McLellan

Head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.

Dylan Larkin

Team captain of the Detroit Red Wings.

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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 and give them something to cheer about.”

— Todd McLellan, Head coach

“It's extremely difficult. I mean, our fans are great. They're passionate. They care. They care about winning. There's been some great years here, and they want us back to that, and that's what they expect here, and to hear that, very difficult. We're down. I'm down, as down as I could be right now.”

— Dylan Larkin, Team captain

What’s next

The Red Wings will look to regroup in the offseason and make changes to end their lengthy playoff drought. Their passionate fans in Hockeytown are desperate for the team to return to its winning ways.

The takeaway

The Red Wings' stunning collapse and failure to make the playoffs this season represents a new low point for the once-dominant franchise. This prolonged drought has left the team's loyal fanbase frustrated and longing for a return to the glory days of Hockeytown hockey.