Welcome to my first 2024-25 Detroit Red Wings weekly regular season recap. The Red Wings played four games this week and finished with a disappointing record of 1-3-0.
They started the season with a 6-3 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but followed that up with a 3-0 shutout of the Nashville Predators. They finished the week with back-to-back losses to the New York Rangers with a combined score of 9-3.
Red Wings in a hole early on in the season
Positives
Forward Lucas Raymond has come into the season and picked up where he left off last year. He currently leads the team with four points on four assists in four games. He continues to be a critical part of the top line that includes captain Dylan Larkin and sniper Alex DeBrincat.
He will score his fair share of goals before the season is over, but right now he is still on a hot streak with points. The Red Wings season may go as far as Raymond take them this season.
Newcomer Cam Talbot has been solid between the pipes in his first few games in Detroit. He currently has a 1-1 record with a 3.31 goals-against-average, a .906 save percentage and one shutout. Given how the defense played the first week of the season, this is a good stat line for goaltender Talbot. An All-Star last season with the Los Angeles Kings, he will be tested in Detroit.
Negatives
The defense is outright awful. Aside from Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson, nobody else has stepped up in the early going. Free agent signee Erik Gustafsson has looked bad and was benched for game two.
Jeff Petry is hurt. Olli Maatta is average. Albert Johansson looked good in his short time on ice. Justin Holl has been good since his recall from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.
But a move has to be made to fix this mess or this could be the reason the Red Wings are once again on the outside looking in at playoff time. This position was one of concern before the season started and it is living up to it's billing.
Forwards Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko have combined for one goal and one assist for two points in four games. Kane is in his second season with the Red Wings after hip surgery and Tarasenko is in his first.
Chemistry could be a factor or they have not found their groove yet, but these two are being counted on heavily for their offensive production. They have both been consistent throughout thier careers with point production so they will need to refocus and get back on track soon.
Weekly record: 1-3-0
Season record: 1-3-0