si
Following another offseason dedicated to building a competitive roster, the Detroit Red Wings approach the 2026-27 campaign with genuine playoff aspirations. While team success will depend on contributions from the entire lineup, a select group of players carries outsized responsibility for the club's fortunes.
This list is not a ranking of Detroit's top five talents, but rather an assessment of who bears the most weight and whose performance could most significantly influence the Red Wings' final standing in the league table.
Key Contributors
At number five is Simon Edvinsson, who, despite not yet being under contract, has evolved into one of the team's most reliable young defensemen. This season offers him a chance to cement his status as a top-pairing blueliner. With opponents focusing heavily on Moritz Seider, Edvinsson's ability to handle tough defensive assignments while chipping in offensively could make Detroit's defense much more formidable. If he progresses further, the Red Wings could boast one of the NHL's strongest young defensive duos.
Fourth on the list is Alex DeBrincat, whose role is clear: score goals. Detroit's offense thrives when DeBrincat converts chances, particularly on the power play. His release and scoring instincts are among the best on the roster, and another 35-to-40-goal season would significantly ease the scoring burden on other lines. Consistency is key for DeBrincat; if he remains a reliable goal scorer, Detroit becomes a tougher opponent to defend.
Third is Dylan Larkin, who, if he starts the season with Detroit, will remain one of the most vital players. Larkin drives play at both ends of the ice, matching up against opposing top lines nightly. His speed generates offense, his leadership sets the tone, and his all-around game makes him invaluable. For the Red Wings to return to the postseason, Larkin must continue logging heavy minutes in all situations while producing like a first-line center.
Second is Lucas Raymond, who has transformed from a promising winger into an offensive cornerstone. The next challenge is becoming the player opponents game-plan against every night. Whether creating at even strength or quarterbacking the power play from the half wall, Raymond's creativity fuels much of Detroit's scoring. If he continues to develop into one of the NHL's elite young forwards, the Red Wings' ceiling rises dramatically, and a career-best offensive season could push them over the playoff line.
Topping the list is Moritz Seider, arguably the most indispensable player to Detroit's success. The former Calder Trophy winner logs massive minutes in all situations, faces the opposition's best forwards, kills penalties, quarterbacks the power play when needed, and provides the physical edge contenders require. Simply put, Detroit's fortunes hinge on Seider. If he continues to develop into a premier two-way defenseman, the Red Wings become significantly harder to play against, as his game-controlling ability from the back end impacts everything from limiting chances to jumpstarting the transition.
The Red Wings have assembled one of the NHL's more balanced rosters, but playoff teams are often defined by their stars. Detroit doesn't need these five to be perfect every night, but they must consistently lead. If Seider anchors the defense, Raymond reaches another offensive level, Larkin maintains his standard, DeBrincat delivers his trademark goal scoring, and Edvinsson continues his ascent, the Red Wings should remain firmly in the playoff conversation throughout the 2026-27 season.