DETROIT — The Red Wings didn’t land any big names Tuesday, but they improved their depth during the start of unrestricted free agency.

Fans were hopeful that players such as Mitch Marner (Vegas), Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand or Aaron Ekblad (all re-signed in Florida) would find their way to Detroit.

But many free agents decided to stay with their present teams, while others went to championship contenders. The Wings, meanwhile, solidified their depth, signing forwards James van Riemsdyk and John Leonard and defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Ian Mitchell to one-year contracts.

The Wings’ biggest free-agent splash occurred Monday night when general manager Steve Yzerman re-signed prospective UFA forward Patrick Kane to a one-year contract worth $3 million.

Kane, 36, can earn another $4 million in bonuses. He can earn $2.5 million for 10 games played, $250,000 for 30 games played, $250,000 for 50 games played, another $500,000 if the Wings make the playoffs, $250,000 for a first-round victory and $250,000 for a third-round victory.

Kane’s season turned around once Todd McLellan replaced Derek Lalonde in late December. Kane scored 16 of his 21 goals and 45 of his 59 points after McLellan was named coach.

“I didn’t have the best start to the season. Felt a little bit unlucky at the start of the year, but still just didn’t feel good about my game and where I was at,” Kane said after the season ended. “The coaching change, maybe just the style, we started playing a little bit more aggressive, a little bit more connected, all five guys up the ice, that really helped me.”

Kane, who was drafted first overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by Chicago, will be joined next season by the No. 2 overall pick that year — van Riemsdyk (by Philadelphia).

Often viewed as a potential trade target by the Wings, Yzerman signed van Riemsdyk, 36, to a one-year contract worth $1 million, plus bonuses that could earn him another $750,000.

Van Riemsdyk played in 71 games with Columbus last season, scoring 16 goals with 20 assists and a minus-4 rating. One of the best net-front players in the NHL, van Riemsdyk has 327 goals and 665 points in 1,082 games played in his career.

The Wings are hoping to catch a spark with Leonard, who is coming off a professional career-best season in the minor leagues.

Leonard, 26, signed a one-year contract for $775,000. He spent last season with Charlotte (AHL), where he scored a career-high 36 goals.

Leonard (5-foot-11, 196 pounds) has played 70 NHL games in his career, with six goals and 17 points. His last NHL stop was 2023-24 in Arizona, where he played six games with the Coyotes.

Bernard-Docker, 25, signed a one-year deal worth $850,000.

A former first-round pick in 2018 (26th overall) by Ottawa, Bernard-Docker (6-1, 198) split last season between Ottawa and Buffalo, playing 25 games with the Senators and 15 with the Sabres. He had one goal and three assists with each team, as well as a plus-2 rating in Ottawa and plus-3 rating in Buffalo.

A defensive defenseman who is a prolific shot blocker, Bernard-Docker is likely to battle for time on the third pairing.

The Wings also added depth to their defense by signing Mitchell to a one-year contract worth $775,000.

Mitchell, 26, was a former 2017 second-round pick (57th overall) in Chicago. Mitchell (6-feet, 192) split last season with the Boston Bruins and their minor-league team. In 15 games with the Bruins, he had one assist with minus-2 rating.

With the free agent market pretty much picked over, Yzerman might look at possible trades to improve the roster any further.

The Wings’ own unrestricted free agents found homes elsewhere.

Goaltender Alex Lyon found a two-year contract with $1.5 million annual average value in Buffalo, where Lyon will compete for playing time rather than a possible third-string job with the Wings, and defenseman Jeff Petry signed a one-year contract worth $800,000 with two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida.

Gordie Howe was one of the greatest players ever in the NHL, but Howe didn’t reach greatness by himself.

Howe needed talent around him, and having Alex Delvecchio as his center was a major reason Howe reached such incredible heights.

“I can thank Alex for a lot of good years,” Howe said. “We read each other very well. I played with some great hockey players, but none came to his order.”

Delvecchio, a quiet magician who played in Howe’s shadow in the opinion of many but was immensely talented in his own right, died Tuesday at the age of 93.

The Delvecchio family, through the Red Wings, posted a message Tuesday afternoon on social media:

“To our Red Wings Fans, Friends and Hockey Community,

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Alex Delvecchio, who left us peacefully on July 1, 2025, surrounded by his family at the age of 93 years old.

“Alex was more than a Hockey icon, he was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, cherished friend, and respected teammate to so many. While the world knew him as an incredible hockey player with numerous accomplishments on the ice, we knew him as someone whose humility, strength, competitiveness, kindness and heart were even greater than his professional achievements. For decades, your love and support meant everything to Alex and to all of us. We are deeply grateful and thankful to everyone.”

The line of Howe, Delvecchio and Ted Lindsay was known as “The Production Line” and formed one of the most prolific scoring units in NHL history.

Delvecchio played in 1,550 games with 456 goals, 825 assists and 1,281 points. When Delvecchio retired in 1974, he ranked second to Howe in all three categories. The Red Wings retired his No. 10 jersey in 1991.

Delvecchio finished among the NHL’s top 10 scorers 10 times in 14 seasons from 1955-56 to 1968-69. He scored 20 or more goals in 13 of his 22 full Red Wings seasons (two seasons with 19) and had 30 or more assists 17 seasons.

Delvecchio assisted on 210 of Howe’s goals, more than any other Howe teammate.

“A great artist, that’s what he was,” Howe said. “I had no idea how much of one until I played with him. Ted Lindsay and I would sit on the bench when Alex was just a rookie and talk about what a good player he could become.”

With Howe and Frank Mahovlich as his wings, Delvecchio had his best season in 1968-69, with 58 assists. Howe had a career-best 103 points.

“Alex was one of those players who made people around him better,” said Mickey Redmond, a former Wings player and now the team’s TV analyst. “He was an extremely unselfish player. The game slowed down for him. He was a top-notch, excellent passer.

“A real gentleman on and off the ice. Maybe some can say he was underrated because he was so unassuming. Maybe he fell under the radar just a bit because of that. But you look at the numbers and you say, ‘Wow.’ The stuff Alex accomplished, it’s a great tribute to how good a hockey player he really was.”

Delvecchio didn’t mind staying in the background while others attracted the headlines. He preferred it that way.

“I never did play the game to have them hang my jersey in the Joe Louis Arena or anyplace, or be a Hall of Famer or whatever,” Delvecchio once said. “I just wanted to play the game, play it as best as I could, contribute to your hockey team, and I feel that any of those other honors are like bonuses.”

Delvecchio was born on Dec. 4, 1931, in Fort William, Ontario. He played minor hockey in his hometown before beginning his professional hockey career with the Oshawa Generals, with whom he suited up for during the 1950-51 season.

After making his NHL debut with the Wings on March 25, 1951, Delvecchio embarked on an impressive 24-year NHL playing career, all with the Red Wings, helping them capture three Stanley Cup championships (1952, 1954, 1955).

Delvecchio followed his playing career, going on to coach the Red Wings for four seasons (1973-77) and was named general manager in 1974, serving in both roles until 1977. That same year, Delvecchio was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and entered the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

Delvecchio possesses some of the biggest moments in Wings’ history, including a two-goal performance in Game 7 of the 1955 Stanley Cup Finals and scoring seven goals during the Wings’ 1956 Stanley Cup run.

Delvecchio was named one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players as part of the league’s centennial celebration and has his No. 10 jersey hanging in the rafters and a bronze statue on the concourse of Little Caesars Arena.

“Not bad company,” said Delvecchio the night of his statue ceremony at Joe Louis Arena in October 2008, the statue alongside his linemates Howe and Lindsay, the only other Wings with statues. “This wouldn’t have happened had I not played with some great players. Like that guy over there (Howe, who was at the ceremony). Playing with guys like that helps your career immensely.

“With guys like Teddy and Gordie, with the horses we had and I played with over the years, my job was to get the puck to them. Get the puck to them and they’d get the job done. I learned that quick. They helped me become a better passer, shall we say.”

Red Wings owner Marian Ilitch issued this statement on Tuesday:

“I am honored to have known our dear friend and Red Wings legend, Alex Delvecchio. Alex was a cherished part of the Red Wings family, and I’m grateful for the years my husband Mike and I shared with him, as well as the remarkable legacy he leaves behind — both in the rafters of the arena and in the hearts of Red Wings fans everywhere. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Delvecchio family during this time of loss.”

Chris Ilitch, Red Wings governor and chief executive officer, said this in a statement:

“The Detroit Red Wings organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Alex Delvecchio – a true Red Wings great whose contributions to our team, our city, and the game of hockey will never be forgotten. Alex embodied what it means to be a Red Wing: loyalty, humility, and excellence on and off the ice. For over two decades, including 12 as captain of the Red Wings, Alex earned the reputation as one of the best two-way forwards in NHL history. Following his Hall of Fame career, he continued to represent the Red Wings with class and distinction as both an executive and ambassador. Our thoughts are with the Delvecchio family and all those who were fortunate enough to know and admire Alex. His legacy will forever be remembered as part of Red Wings history and Hockeytown.”

Delvecchio is survived by his wife Judy and their five children, 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

DETROIT — Goaltender John Gibson was in Cabo for a charity event Saturday when he heard the news he was traded to the Red Wings.

It was interesting timing, for sure, but news that Gibson welcomed after being part of the Anaheim Ducks for over a decade.

“Very exciting,” Gibson said during a Zoom call Tuesday with Detroit media. “Being in one place for a long time, there’s a lot of close friendships inside and outside the organization, but we’re really excited for the next chapter. I still feel like I have a lot left to prove and I’m excited to get the season going and playing, and hopefully we can get Detroit in the playoffs.”

Since returning from Cabo, and settling into his offseason home in his native Pittsburgh, the trade has settled in for Gibson.

“Being away and all that and being in a whirlwind and kind of coming home and explaining it to our kids, it’s now more exciting,” he said. “It’s starting to soak in than when it originally happened.”

Gibson was acquired for goaltender Petr Mrazek and two future draft picks (a 2026 second-rounder and a 2027 fourth-rounder).

Gibson spoke with general manager Steve Yzerman on Tuesday morning after playing phone tag the last several days. He also talked with captain Dylan Larkin, forward Andrew Copp and goaltender Cam Talbot, among others.

Having been part of the USA National Team Development Program, based in Plymouth Township, early in his career gave Gibson a good handle on the Metro Detroit area. He’s been coached by Wings coach Todd McLellan during the World Cup of Hockey, and assistant coach Trent Yawney was an assistant in Anaheim for years when Gibson was there, so there’s familiarity.

“He (McLellan) has been around and coached for a while in the Pacific Division. Playing against him, any time we were going against one of his teams, they were well coached and structured, disciplined. He kind of holds his standards and principles and you just go,” Gibson said. “I had a lot of experience with Trent Yawney. I’ve kind of grew up with him. He was my first coach in Norfolk (AHL) and had him a few years in Anaheim. Some familiar faces, which definitely helps the transition.

“I kind of played under Todd for a little bit. I know Trent Yawney and how the defensive structure is. I don’t know if it’ll be a ton (of adjustment). It’s all kind of fresh and new but hopefully not too much.”

The emergence of Lukas Dostal in Anaheim the past couple seasons made Gibson’s name a regular appearance on trade boards. With injuries and illness also hampering Gibson, 31, last season, he was limited to 29 games with an 11-11-2 record, a 2.77 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.

Gibson — who has two more years on his contract, with a $6.4 million annual average value — is looking forward to showing the NHL he’s still a premier goaltender.

“It’s a new chapter, a fresh start,” Gibson said. “I’m excited to prove myself. It’s an exciting opportunity, a team and organization that really wants to get back to playoff hockey. They’ve been so close for a couple years, and for me coming in and being part of it, it’s a historic franchise. It’s a privilege and honor to be part of it all.

“They’re right there.”

General manager Steve Yzerman was pleased Saturday to add Gibson and upgrade the Wings’ goaltending.

“John has historically, throughout his career, been a good goaltender,” Yzerman said. “Anaheim went through a rebuilding process and they are coming out of that. We’re sitting here today, banking on John has battled through that and will be able to maintain a high level. We like to think we’re a reasonably solid team that is moving forward, and that he’ll be fine in this role.

“We just think he’s a good goaltender and the best option for us right now. We’re hopeful and expecting him to perform at a high level next year.”

Gibson has been a goaltender who regularly plays at least 40 games per season and is optimistic he can do that in Detroit.

“Everybody’s body is different throughout the season. You’re going to have unforeseen challenges and bumps and bruises here and there, but I’m just trying to put myself in the best position possible with training and conditioning to be ready for the season, and be healthy as I can be,” he said.

Being from Pittsburgh, Gibson was a teenager when the Wings and Penguins met in consecutive years in 2008-09 in the Stanley Cup Final, both winning one, and relishes the memories.

“I remember those battles. Obviously remember growing up in Pittsburgh and (goaltender Marc-Andre) Fleury’s (game-saving) save, so I remember the good and bad from both of them,” Gibson said.

The Detroit Red Wings made eight selections in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Here’s a breakdown of each of players selected:

 

Carter Bear

Pick: No. 13 overall (Round 1)

Position: Left wing

Height/weight: 6-foot, 179-pounds

Last season: Everett (WHL), 56 games, 40 goals, 42 assists, 82 points

Fact:  An Achilles injury ended his season in March, but he’ll be ready for training camp.

Scouting report: Bear can score in many different ways but mostly isn’t shy about getting to the net and plays a complete game at both ends of the ice. Has an elite shot and can score from the perimeter as well. Bear brings a lot of energy to the lineup.

Eddie Genborg

Pick: No. 44 overall (Round 2)

Position: Right wing

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 196-pounds

Last season: Linkoping (Sweden), 28 games, 19 goals, 15 assists, 34 points.

Fact:  Switched positions, from goaltender, as a teenager.

Scouting report:  Maybe a little bit of Tomas Holmstrom in his game, but Genborg has a lot more skill.

He loves to hit, lives in front of the net, and plays with a bit of a physical edge. But Genborg has good offensive instincts and has shown ability to score at the junior level.

Michal Pradel

Pick: No. 75 overall (Round 3)

Position: Goaltender

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 198 pounds

Last season: Tri-City (USHL), 14 games, 9-4-0, 2.41 GAA, .899 SVS.

Fact: Came over from Slovakia to further his hockey career in the USHL.

Scouting report: Scouts love Pradel’s size and athleticism. He has the ability to see over opponents and always seems to be in position. Rebound control is an area he needs to work on.

Brent Solomon

Pick: No. 109 overall (Round 4)

Position: Right wing

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 165 pounds

Last season: Champlin Park H.S. (Minnesota), 28 games, 38 goals, 18 assists, 56 points.

Fact:  Went directly to USHL hockey after high school career ended and scored four goals in six games for Sioux Falls.

Scouting report: A natural goal scorer with an elite, quick release. Has shown the ability to score goals, a pure goal scorer, at every level. Needs to grow physically but has the offensive skills to intrigue.

Michal Svrcek

Pick: No. 119 overall (Round 4)

Position: Left wing

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 178 pounds

Last season: Brynas (Sweden), 30 games, 14 goals, 16 assists, 30 points.

Fact: One of the few Slovaks playing in the Swedish Elite League.

Scouting report: Don’t let the size fool you — Svrcek plays much bigger than his size. He loves to hit, plays hard every second, and can disrupt opponents with his ability to get on top of skaters. He complements that all-out style with an ability to put the puck in the net.

Nikita Tyurin

Pick: No. 140 overall (Round 5)

Position: Defenseman

Height/weight: 6-foot, 174 pounds

Last season: Spartak Moskva (Russia), 50 games, 4 goals, 16 assists

Fact: One of only 21 Russian players drafted by NHL teams last weekend.

Scouting report: A dangerous offensive defenseman, who can skate with the puck, fires a good outlet pass and jump into the play. Coming off a strong playoff performance.

Will Murphy

Pick: No. 172 overall (Round 6)

Position: Defenseman

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 205 pounds

Last season: Cape Brenton (QMJHL), 54 games, 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points.

Fact: Maritimes junior defenseman of the year in 2024.

Scouting report: Murphy is a classic, old school, defensive defenseman who will protect teammates, clear out bodies in front of the net, and is a team leader. The Wings could use the physicality Murphy brings to the organization.

Grayden Robertson-Palmer

Pick: No. 204 overall (Round 7)

Position: Center

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 181 pounds

Last season: Phillips Andover Academy H.S. (Mass.), 30 games, 16 goals, 23 assists, 39 points.

Fact: Headed to play for QMJHL powerhouse Moncton.

Scouting report: Dominated in the New England high school level and is headed to a strong junior program. Robertson-Palmer has a strong, pro body, gets off a hard shot, and has leadership qualities. The step upward in competition should help drive his game.

DETROIT — Every NHL team is excited this weekend, after the completion of the Entry Draft, with their accumulation of talent into the organization.

The Red Wings are no different.

Starting with drafting forward Carter Bear Friday in the first round, and leading into adding seven players Saturday, the Wings feel they’ve infused the organization with promising depth.

“Just good prospects,” general manager Steve Yzerman said. “We don’t necessarily draft by position. We always try to, at least at this stage and where we’re at, still trying to get the best prospects. We’re excited about Carter in the first round, a player that fits into the type of player that’ll fit in well for us, a left shot left winger.

“The remainder of the group, our scouts feel good about it. We were able to get a couple defenseman, several forwards, another big goaltender. We were able to address some needs in terms of depth in the prospect pool and we’ll try to do our best and be patient and develop them and help them along the way to be professional players and hopefully play for the Red Wings.”

The way the Florida Panthers have won two consecutive Stanley Cups, with a style of hard-nosed, competitive, hard-hitting hockey, but blending that with offensive skill, is a framework the rest of the NHL is trying to copy.

The Wings have been accumulating those types of players for several drafts.

“We want to continue to draft and bring in prospects that can skate, can think the game and are competitive and be tough players to play against,” said Kris Draper, director of amateur scouting. “Two hundred (foot), complete hockey players.”

The Red Wings opened Saturday selecting that type of player in Sweden’s Eddie Genborg in the second round.

Drafting 44th overall, the Wings took the 6-foot-2, 196-pound Genborg, a skilled, power forward winger who scored 19 goals and added 15 assists in 28 games for Linkoping.

Genborg is projected as a physical forward who is strong on the forecheck and is effective around the net and along the walls. Scouts also like his intelligence on the ice.

“Watching playoff hockey the last two months, the one thing that sticks out is how hard it is to play and compete,” Draper said. “The teams that were able to be successful and go on a run, they had guys who could skate, be hard to play against and be responsible hockey players. We think that Eddie will bring that for us.”

Draper relayed a story about how the Wings ask players at the NHL combine if you could take a teammate or two with you to the NHL, who would it be?

“It was unanimous, the guys on the Swedish (national) team wanted to play with Eddie,” Draper said. “He’s a big, strong kid who can really skate and be physical on the forecheck, a guy who is tough to play against. We just like the intensity he’s able to bring.”

The Wings had two consecutive picks in the third round but only used one.

They grabbed goaltender Michal Pradel, from Tri-City (USHL) with the 75th overall pick, then traded the 76th pick to Columbus for pick No. 109 (fourth round) and Columbus’ fourth-round pick in 2026.

Pradel (6-5, 198), from Slovakia, played 14 games in Tri-City (9-4-0, 2.41 GAA, .899 SVS). Pradel has the size to track pucks through screens, even in scramble mode, and he’s played well in pressure situations.

Pradel joins a growing stable of goaltending prospects the Wings possess, including Sebastian Cossa, Trey Augustine and Rudy Guimond.

“It’ll sort itself out over time,” said Draper, noting new regulations in junior and NCAA hockey that allows more development time. “We wanted to draft a goaltender and bring them into the prospect pool. Michal Pradel was someone we saw a lot of and loved his size and athleticism.”

In the fourth round, the Wings took right wing Brent Solomon, with the Columbus pick acquired in the previous round.

Solomon mainly played high school hockey in Minnesota last season, scoring 94 points in 49 games for two teams. Solomon had six points (four goals) in eight games with Sioux Falls (USHL) to end the season.

Solomon (5-11, 165) is committed to play collegiately at Wisconsin, after Sioux Falls this season.

“Right shot natural goal scorer, with a real good release,” Draper said. “We like his ability to score goals. He did real well at the high school level and he got off to a hot start in the USHL which was something you like to see.”

With their second fourth-round pick, the Wings took Michal Svrcek at 119th overall.

At 5-10 and 178 pounds, Svrcek is a competitive winger who had 30 points (14 goals) in 30 games with Brynas in Sweden. Svrcek isn’t big physically, but scouts rave about his energy and ability to swarm opponents. Despite his size, Svrcek doesn’t shy away from hitting and loves to forecheck.

“We really like, and you’ll probably hear this a lot, the skating and compete, and the puck skills he has,” Draper said. “He plays a lot bigger than he is. When you sit there and think about names and players (at this stage in the draft), we decided to go with Michal and we’re excited to have him.”

Russian defenseman Nikita Tyurin was the Wings’ fifth-round selection, at 140th overall.

Tyurin is a 6-foot, 174-pound offensive defenseman who had four goals and 16 assists in 50 games for Spartak Moskva in Russia’s junior league. Wings’ Russian scout Nikolai Vakourov led the charge to draft Tyurin.

“Nikolai kept saying what a great playoff he (Tyurin) had,” Draper said. “He’s a good skater, good hockey sense, good with the puck and good first pass defenseman. When you’re sitting there and in the later rounds, and one of the area scouts is excited about a player, that’s what I want to hear.”

Defenseman Will Murphy was the Wings’ pick in the sixth round (172nd overall).

A 6-4, 205-pound defensive defenseman with Cape Breton (QMJHL), Murphy had four points (two goals) in 54 games. Murphy knows how to use his size and length, protects the area in front of his net, and can play a physical game.

“Big stay at home defensive defenseman,” Draper said. “The physicality and toughness is something we felt at the time, where we were (in the draft), we wanted to bring into the organization. He’s a character kid, the type of teammate that will do everything he can to stick up for his teammates.”

The Wings ended the day by grabbing center Grayden Robertson-Palmer (5-foot-10, 181-pounds) in the seventh round (No. 204 overall). Robertson-Palmer has a strong body with a strong shot and had 39 points in 30 games playing at Phillips Andover Academy (Massachusetts). He’ll play in Moncton (QMJHL) next season.

“He’s solid kid, thick build, competitive kid who can really skate,” Draper said. “He can really skate and we like the way he plays the game, and the intensity he plays the game with.”

Detroit traded its second seventh-round selection (No. 211) to Calgary for the Flames’ seventh-round pick in 2026.

DETROIT — It was no surprise Marco Kasper headed off to the IIHF men’s world championships in Sweden and Denmark soon after the Red Wings season ended.

Simply put, Kasper wanted to play more hockey.

“You play all those games and you’re in a flow and it’s so weird, just the end of it,” Kasper said. “I love being on the ice.”

So Kasper had an opportunity to play more hockey — high-level hockey, at that — and the torrid pace he was on the second half of the NHL season continued overseas.

Austria made it to the quarterfinals of the IIHF world championships Thursday — it lost 6-0 to Switzerland — for the first time since 1994. Kasper, 21, the Wings’ talented rookie, was a major reason why.

Kasper led Austria with seven points (four goals, three assists) in eight games and displayed the impressive versatility at both ends of the rink that came to be expected of coach Todd McLellan and his staff by the end of this past season.

“You talk about 200-foot player, I would put him on our team in that category,” McLellan said toward the end of the season. “He plays our zone, the neutral zone and offensive zone, and he can play east-west or north-south. He’s a 200-foot player and they are very valuable.”

Kasper had 37 points (19 goals and 18 assists) in 77 games with the Wings, seeing his game take off after McLellan took over as head coach on Dec. 26.

Kasper soon found himself on a line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond and complemented the two offensive stars with a willingness to get to the net, create space, and do all the grunt work. Later in the season, Kasper centered his own line, moving back to his natural center position.

Wherever Kasper played, he showed definitively why the Wings drafted him eighth overall in 2022, and why there’s so much excitement around his game.

“For some, it’s very difficult (shuttling between center and forward), but Marco may be one of the exceptions,” McLellan said. “The initial task of going from center to wing is probably a bigger adjustment than going back to the middle. He played in the middle his whole life. When he went up and had to play the wing, that’s where he probably had to adjust his game and read a little bit differently, understand where and what might happen along the boards more than in the middle of the rink.

“We talked about can he produce some offense and he wasn’t going to basically with the minutes we were playing him and where he was playing. We moved him to wing and we put him up there, and he took advantage of it.”

Kasper was one of several Wings’ young players who received more ice time under McLellan and thrived with the responsibility.

“Just confidence,” said Kasper, of what he may have gotten during the switch to McLellan. “Also trying to play a 200-foot (all-around) game and getting out there and doing the right things. The intensity during practice was harder, and that’s good for me and the team. Going out there and getting ready for those games.

“The guys did a great job helping me and the coaches. They talked about how we wanted to play and needed to play.”

It’s unclear this soon after the season ended where Kasper will begin next season, wing or center. Kasper doesn’t mind either spot, although if he does play center, becoming more effective in the faceoff circle is a must (44.9% this season).

“That’s definitely something I want to improve on over the summer and into next season,” Kasper said. “That goes back to the matchups against these guys like (Toronto’s John) Tavares, he’s unreal in the faceoffs. You take away things from those guys, and Larks (Dylan Larkin) is real good on faceoffs, and just watching him and seeing how he does it. It’s a big point of my focus, and to play center, it’s something I have to get better at.”

In terms of preparation this summer, nothing will change for Kasper. General manager Steve Yzerman was impressed with Kasper’s maturity and preparation when the Wings drafted Kasper, and those traits were on display in the Wings’ locker room after he was recalled.

“It’s not going to change how I approach the offseason,” Kasper said of his rookie success. “I know it’s the same boring answer, but what I’m trying to do is go out there every day and do the best I can, whether it’s on the ice or in the gym, and try to do the best I can. That’s how I’m going to look at it.

“It’s going to be hard next year. I feel like I had a pretty good year, but it’s going to be really hard to come back and do as good and even improve, but it’s something I’m going to focus on.”

Playing in the top two lines most of the season, Kasper saw some difficult matchups against some of the best forwards in the NHL. Facing them on a nightly basis was a challenge he willingly took on.

Interestingly, it was taking on some of the older legends that Kasper will remember.

“Sidney Crosby, to just line up and face off against him, it was pretty cool,” Kasper said. “You see how long he’s played and also (Alex) Ovechkin, he just breaks the goal-scoring record. They’ve been the best players in the world, and (teammate Patrick) Kane, and those guys for a long time have been the best, and that’s pretty cool.”

Kasper always will remember facing Crosby for another reason.

“I won the first faceoff,” Kasper said. “I didn’t win too many after that first one, but that was pretty cool.”

DETROIT — The outlook for Elmer Soderblom has changed considerably over one full hockey season.

A year ago, the Red Wings were intrigued by Soderblom’s potential, but it was fair to wonder if the 6-foot-8, 246-pound forward was ever going to fully realize and utilize the unique hockey gifts he had. There simply haven’t been that many big men who have a certain blend of skills Soderblom possesses.

Those hands, that touch with the puck, are usually found with smaller, swifter players.

But Soderblom is different. And one year later, as the Wings head into the offseason, he suddenly is very much in their plans going forward after an eye-opening close to the season.

Recalled Jan. 21 from Grand Rapids, Soderblom had four goals and seven assists in 26 games in the NHL, but the way he seamlessly joined the Wings lineup and grew his role under coach Todd McLellan was impressive.

The Wings may very well be rewarded for their patience with Soderblom, a former 2019 sixth-round draft pick (159th overall).

“It feels like the confidence got better and better during my time here,” Soderblom said during the Wings’ season-ending media conferences. “I’ve been working really hard over the last couple years, so eventually it’s going to click. I’m happy that the season turned out good for me and looking forward to next season to prove and show it even more.”

Soderblom had five goals and eight points in 21 games with the Wings in 2022-23, but the team sent him back to Grand Rapids as his playing time decreased and he battled injuries.

Soderblom had 13 goals in 61 games for the Griffins in 2023-24 but was never promoted to the Wings. Draft picks like Jonatan Berggren, Marco Kasper, Carter Mazur and Nate Danielson all were getting more attention than Soderblom, who emerged in his last several weeks with the Griffins with an NHL-caliber overall game.

But the time in Grand Rapids proved beneficial for Soderblom, whose development came full circle. Soderblom’s skating was always a question mark, but it was better. There was a need for more physicality, and he did play with more of an edge by finishing checks and generally being harder to play against. There was also more consistency in his overall play.

McLellan was somewhat familiar with Soderblom’s ability, but he admittedly didn’t know a ton about the big winger. But as the season progressed, McLellan was impressed.

“There’s a lot of tools in that man’s toolbox and he’s starting to access all of them,” McLellan said. “The common thought of a player like that (big, imposing wing) is a little bit clumsy, awkward and just a bullier bringing pure physicality; the puck is foreign to him.

“That’s not the case with Elmer. He has soft hands. He’s got a pretty good offensive mind and he is able to keep plays alive with his reach. He anticipates where plays are going. It’s not all about body contact; it’s about using your stick as well.

“He has quite a nice skill set for a guy that’s 6-8.”

Late in the season, Soderblom was bumped onto the top line playing with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, and he complemented those two scorers with his size and ability to get them space on the ice. Soderblom’s reach and aptitude made him a key figure on any line.

Going through the Wings’ late-season push that ended in a playoff miss, Soderblom learned how important being steady and dependable on a nightly basis is. He feels he improved in that area but can get better.

“You have to find a way to play for 82 games,” Soderblom said. “You have to find a way to be consistent. A lot of the veteran guys know how to do that. They bring something to the table every night, so just finding a way to be consistent is going to be huge for me. That’s a step in the right direction.

“Simplifying my game a little bit more and finding the consistency level, I improved those. Also, my physicality, I improved that, but at the same time, I can get even better at it. That’s why I’m looking forward to next year, to keep improving and keep doing more stuff like that.

“Other than that, of course I’m happy with my offensive play. I feel confident in the (offensive) zone, and I just want to keep building on that.”

Soderblom doesn’t plan on slowing down now, even as his NHL future appears a bit more secure.

“I’m just going to keep working on every small little detail,” he said. “It takes a lot of small details to play in this league … and just keep being physical and using my size to my advantage, that’s a huge part, too. I’m just going to keep playing my game and improving along the way.

“It feels like I’ve improved a lot this year. I’m just trying to get better at some areas that I need to improve, be an even better player next year and be more ready.”

DETROIT — Instead of preparing for Game 1 of the playoffs on Saturday, the Red Wings were packing for the summer and saying their goodbyes.

It’s become a familiar routine. This is the ninth consecutive year the Wings are outside of the playoff picture, the second-longest streak currently in the NHL (Buffalo is at a record 14) and the fourth longest all-time in the NHL.

You could sense the frustration Saturday and the disappointment is mounting.

“We can’t make excuses anymore,” forward Alex DeBrincat said. “It’s time to take that next step and be a competitor. We have to do it.”

The Wings never were able to sustain the sort of positive traction that would have produced a playoff season.

They started slowly, and a 13-17-4 record at the Christmas break forced general manager Steve Yzerman to fire Derek Lalonde and hire Todd McLellan.

The Wings immediately surged. They had two seven-game win streaks and were in playoff position at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament break. But going 9-13-2 to end the season, including another miserable March (4-10-0), sent the Wings home again in mid-April.

“It’s not fun. You want to get ready to play Game 1 right now and that didn’t happen,” forward Lucas Raymond said. “Everyone is disappointed. We put ourselves before the 4 Nations break to be in a good spot coming back and making a good push for it. It didn’t click for us.”

Raymond completed his fourth NHL season and has yet to make the playoffs.

“You grow up playing hockey, and you play to win, whether that’s a Pee-Wee tournament or whatever it is,” Raymond said. “You’re always used to playing those games and not being able to do that is frustrating. Not fun at all.

“Everyone is determined to change that, and we want to take next step very soon.”

There were positives. The injection of youth and contribution by players such as Marco Kasper, Elmer Soderblom, Jonatan Berggren, Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson — along with more help next season — gives considerable hope for the future. Players like Moritz Seider, Dylan Larkin, Raymond and DeBrincat are still very much in the prime of their careers.

Plus, McLellan will have a full training camp to incorporate his systems, which the Wings believe will be a major plus.

“Todd is real good coach and I’ve been very impressed with him,” said Larkin, the Wings’ captain. “(Having) training camp with our group, our young guys and our core with him, it could be very valuable. Todd will really help turn this around here.”

Larkin, 28, made the playoffs his rookie season (2015-16) and has yet to return. The Waterford native admits it’s been “difficult.”

“(It’s) something I think about a lot, think about it every day for a long time during days. But that doesn’t do any good and you have to go out and play and win hockey games,” Larkin said. “We came up five or six wins short this year.”

The swoon in March, for basically the third consecutive year, will be on the Wings’ minds. Once the losing started and the momentum was going away, they couldn’t turn it around.

“It’s something we can’t figure out,” Seider said. “We’re always engaged. We’re dialed in. But we just couldn’t get it done. That hurt us. We were in it, and after March it was tough to look at the standings. I don’t really have an explanation.”

Playing hurt

Larkin played all 82 games this season but admitted Saturday he returned from the 4 Nations tournament — in which he was one of Team USA’s best players — with injuries.

“I picked up a couple injuries there and that’s just what it is. There were times I didn’t feel good and was playing hurt and I wasn’t able to do some things, a lot of things I wanted to,” Larkin said. “But I still went out there and tried my best. It is another disappointing year. I did play all 82 games, but I would have liked to be more effective in a lot of them.”

Larkin had 30 goals and 40 assists but was off the point-per-game pace he was near, or at, the last three seasons.

Larkin didn’t think any sort of surgeries would be needed for his injuries before adding he doesn’t “know yet.”

Ice chips

Patrick Kane, a prospective unrestricted free agent, would like to return to the Wings.

“I’ll take some time to think, but overall I’ve really enjoyed my time here,” Kane said. “It’s a great place to continue to my career and play and there are a lot of things about the organization that have helped me, not only with my (hip) injury but find a good role within the team and play. There’s definitely some mutual interest coming back and continuing on here.”

… Soderblom, who has been battling an undisclosed injury, expects to play for Grand Rapids in the AHL playoffs.

“If my injury gets back to 100%, I’ll be down there,” Soderblom said.

… Potential UFAs goaltender Alex Lyon and defenseman Jeff Petry both said they haven’t given much thought yet to what their futures hold. Petry, 37, is 19 games short of 1,000 for his career and is planning on playing next season.

Petry disclosed he had abdominal surgery the second half of this season, which limited him to 44 games.

… Andrew Copp (shoulder surgery) said he’ll be completely healthy for the start of September training camp.