Detroit’s 2025-26 plan centers on Gibson in net and veteran depth with van Riemsdyk, Appleton, and Hamonic, but scoring depth remains thin and goaltending unsettled. Bold chatter has the Wings potentially trading an important piece at the deadline and possibly finishing bottom-10, testing Yzerman’s rebuild as Lucas Raymond eyes a 100-point ceiling. Seider and Edvinsson anchor the blue line, while Raymond, Van Riemsdyk, and Appleton must lift the offense and PP usage to keep playoff hopes alive.

Gibson’s arrival changes the goaltending narrative, but the roster-wide gaps—especially on the right side and in depth scoring—keep fantasy upside murky. If Detroit succumbs to pressure and lottery luck tilts away, the draft class and depth moves will define the rebuild’s pace more than immediate wins. The Wings’ path blends risk with upside as youth meets veteran steadiness.