Red Wings bold predictions for 2024-25: Dylan Larkin scores 40, a Patrick Kane golden goal

The preseason is over.

The roster is (nearly) set.

Now its time to make some predictions.

With the Detroit Red Wings set to begin their 2024-25 season Thursday night in Detroit, here are 10 bold predictions on how their campaign will unfold.

1.

Dylan Larkin scores 40 goals Boldness level: 3 out of 5 Confidence level: 60 percent OK, Im using this one for the second year in a row.

It fell short for me last year, but I stand by the spirit of it! Larkin had 33 goals in 68 games, which over an 82-game season totals out to a 39.7-goal pace.

Still, the franchises 40-goal drought is now at 15 seasons, not reached since Marian Hossa in 2008-09.

But I think Larkin is the guy to break it.

Hes found a whole new level as a scorer over the past three seasons, and last year Detroit finally surrounded him with the kind of talent needed to threaten 40.

On most nights, Larkin will be playing with two of Lucas Raymond , Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane .

His results last season proved what that looks like on the scoresheet.

Advertisement The question now is just health, as he hasnt played a full 82 games since 2018.

He hit 80 just two seasons ago, though, and if he can do that again, I think itll be enough to make this prediction come true.

2.

Raymond becomes a point-per-game player Boldness level: 3 out of 5 Confidence level: 50 percent Raymond reached another level last season.

His torrid finish to the season, which nearly helped push Detroit into the playoffs, brought his season totals to 31 goals and 72 points legit top-line production.

Now, there are some questions around the peripherals, mainly in the form of a 19 percent shooting percentage that will be tough to repeat.

But I think Raymond has another step up in store this season.

His play in April proved he has it in him to take over games, and playing with Larkin and DeBrincat, its possible everyone on that line clears 30 goals this season.

Plus, theres a simple enough mathematical solution to that shooting percentage question: shoot more.

Raymonds 163 shots on goal last season were actually fewer than he had as a rookie (184).

He did have a career-high 311 shot attempts, so its not like he wasnt looking to shoot, but theres still plenty of room to up both numbers.

If he can, point-per-game production is a real possibility.

3.

No goalie hits 40 starts Boldness level: 3.5 out of 5 Confidence level: 40 percent The question all through training camp has been which of Detroits three goaltenders Ville Husso , Alex Lyon and Cam Talbot will emerge as the teams No.

1.

But what if the answer is none of them ? Certainly there will be stretches this year where someone will get hot and keep the net.

Coach Derek Lalonde has shown a clear proclivity for that thus far in Detroit.

But are any of the three really prepared to do that over a full season? Talbot is 37.

Husso is coming off an injury-riddled 2023-24.

And Lyon, who started 43 games for Detroit last season, showed signs of overwork while doing so.

Advertisement So, even while allowing for the inevitable stretch in which one netminder keeps the crease for the bulk of a month, heres guessing Detroits breakdown ends up closer to 32-30-20 with health the big variable that could shake things up.

4.

Moritz Seider will lead the NHL in blocked shots Boldness level: 2 out of 5 Confidence level: 65 percent Seider nearly did this last year, so its not exactly going out on a limb.

His 212 blocks last season were six shy of league leader Colton Parayko .

Theres an argument, of course, that Detroit should try to lessen the load on Seider, giving him more offensive situations rather than the NHLs toughest minutes.

I certainly wonder if theres a sweet spot for tough minutes somewhere slightly below where Seider was last season.

But all indications are Detroit plans to keep using Seider the way it has been, and hes been right back to his shot-blocking ways in preseason.

If his overall minutes go up at all from the 22:22 per game he played last season, he could cruise to the top of the blocks leaderboard.

5.

Marco Kasper finishes the season in Detroits top six Boldness level: 4 out of 5 Confidence level: 40 percent After a roaring camp and preseason, the Red Wings sent Kasper to AHL Grand Rapids on Sunday.

But I think Kasper showed enough in camp to take whatever opportunity he gets in Detroit whenever it comes and work his way up the lineup by years end.

Yes, his game is built on two-way responsibility and toughness, which make him an obvious fit for a matchup role like the third line.

But really, Detroit needs a bit more of that higher in the lineup too, and Kaspers fearlessness and pace could complement a smaller group of skilled wingers high in the lineup.

Id imagine the Red Wings will move Kasper around plenty whenever he gets the call, but I think those harder elements would be a welcome addition to one of their scoring lines.

Advertisement 6.

Detroits team scoring drops from top 10 to bottom 10 Boldness level: 4 out of 5 Confidence level: 30 percent This is going to sound like a bit of an extreme prediction, but I was surprised at how little a drop-off it would take for this to actually come true.

Last year, Detroits 275 goals ranked ninth in the league.

But the 23rd-ranked team last season, Buffalo , still scored 244.

Thats just a 31-goal difference, which feels entirely possible as a drop-off for the Red Wings, due to an expected dip in shooting percentage and the departure of several solid secondary scorers: David Perron , Robby Fabbri , Daniel Sprong , Shayne Gostisbehere and Jake Walman .

Vladimir Tarasenko might score more than any one of those three forwards, but certainly not as much as all of them, and Erik Gustafsson and Simon Edvinsson arent likely to score as much as Gostisbehere and Walman.

I do think theres internal improvement coming as evidenced by my first two predictions here but nonetheless, this Detroit team is going to have to win games a bit differently than last years edition.

7.

Patrick Kane scores the tournament-winning goal of the 4 Nations Face-off Boldness level: 5 out of 5 Confidence level : 10 percent OK, lets get really bold now.

Ive been impressed by how fluid Kane has looked all camp.

Im buying the hype on his full summer of training and how it could help him reach another level this year.

I think hell be good enough to secure a place on Team USA for the return of best-on-best international play on what should be a loaded team with a lot to play for.

Nobody has a feel for the moment quite like Kane.

You remember that game in Chicago last year, dont you? So when the chips are down in an overtime gold medal game with Canada, you better believe itll be Kane coming through to deliver the hardware.

Advertisement 8.

All four of the Red Wings Michigan alumni score at Ohio Stadium on March 1 Boldness level: 5 out of 5 Confidence level: 5 percent This one borders on absurd, but hey, theyre supposed to be bold, right? Theres plenty of intrigue around Detroits Stadium Series contest in Columbus, especially with the University of Michigan ties on both teams.

I think Detroits Wolverines come out extra fired up for that one, with Larkin and former high school quarterback Andrew Copp scoring in the first period, Tyler Motte getting a shorty in the second, and the rest of the gang force-feeding J.T.

Compher looking to complete the set in the third.

Statistically, theres not much chance of this.

But it sure would make for a good story! 9.

In Sweden, Axel Sandin-Pellikka will set the SHL U20 defense scoring record Boldness level: 2 out of 5 Confidence level: 70 percent This one sounds like it should be bold, but Im not sure it really is.

Sandin-Pellikka actually looked like he might threaten this record ( Nils Lundkvist s 31 points in 2019-20) last year when he had 10 goals and 18 points in 39 games.

This year, hes off to a roaring start with five points in his first seven games.

And while hell likely miss some action for the world juniors, hes got the talent and the supporting cast on a strong Skelleftea team to make a serious run at surpassing Lundkvists mark.

10.

The Red Wings miss the playoffs for the ninth straight year Boldness level : 2 out of 5 Confidence level : 55 percent I was torn here.

On one hand, I do think the Red Wings are going to see some legit internal improvement from players like Larkin, Raymond, Edvinsson and Kasper.

You can see that in these predictions.

But the makeup of the team is very similar to last season, and while that team came up just a tiebreaker short of the playoffs, that run came with some unfavorable underlying numbers and an unusually low cutoff for the playoffs (91 points).

With an Eastern Conference field that saw several hopefuls improve (namely Ottawa, Washington and New Jersey), I think Detroit will be on the outside looking in once more.

My prediction is 89 points, two fewer than last season, representing the first time the team has taken a (small) step back under Steve Yzerman.

(Top photo of Dylan Larkin: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images).

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