Red Wings Rant Podcast

We count down 15 candidates to become Detroit’s next general manager or head of hockey operations. This is not a prediction of who Chris Ilitch is most likely to hire. It’s a ranking of who could create the clearest break from the previous regime and deliver a faster, more modern turnaround.

The candidates include:

Kris Draper, Shawn Horcoff, Ryan Martin, Tom Fitzgerald, Brendan Shanahan, Marc Bergevin, Josh Flynn, Bran...

The Steve Yzerman era as Red Wings general manager is over — kind of.

The Detroit Red Wings announced a major hockey operations leadership transition, with Yzerman moving out of the GM role and into a senior advisor position while the organization begins a search for a new head of hockey operations.

So… what now?

Is this the beginning of a real organizational reset?
Is this a move designed to speed up the Dylan La...

The Red Wings Rant free agency episode is getting a second chance after our internet destroyed the first recording — and somehow, the NHL gave us an even better conversation.

Free agency opened. The Red Wings didn’t meaningfully change their trajectory. Dylan Larkin still wants out. Steve Yzerman says he’ll do what’s in the best interest of the Detroit Red Wings.

But what does “best interest” act...

Tomorrow is the NHL Draft, and somehow the Detroit Red Wings head into it without a first-round pick while the rest of the league reshapes the NHL.

Since our last episode we've seen one of the wildest trade weeks in recent memory.

• Brady Tkachuk joins his brother in Florida.
• Washington adds Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou.
• Ottawa lands William Eklund.
• Buffalo flips Bowen Byram into the 4th overall pick.
• Calg...

For years we've asked the question:

If the Detroit Red Wings were going to copy another contender, which team should it be?

Back when the Hurricanes were making deep playoff runs, we argued Carolina was the blueprint. Now Rod Brind'Amour and the Hurricanes have finally won the Stanley Cup.

So how close are the Red Wings to becoming Carolina?

And after Vegas reached another Stanley Cup Final, how close are the Red Wings to becoming ...

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The biggest Detroit Red Wings story in years may have just dropped.

According to Elliotte Friedman, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade out of Detroit. While details remain limited, multiple reports suggest frustration with Detroit's inability to end its playoff drought and growing tension between Larkin and Steve Yzerman may have contributed to the situation.

If true, this changes everything.

In this emergency ...

The Detroit Red Wings offseason is officially here, and after missing the playoffs again, the pressure is building on Steve Yzerman to make real changes.

In this episode of Red Wings Rant, we catch up on the latest around Detroit, dive into the NHL rumor mill, and look at how a rising salary cap and a thin free agent class could create a wild trade market this summer.

We discuss potential Red Wings targets including Elias Petters...

The Detroit Red Wings are officially at a crossroads.

After a 10th straight season without playoffs and another late-season collapse, Steve Yzerman finally said what everyone has been thinking: this team needs to change.

But here’s the real question…
Will he actually do it?

In this episode of Red Wings Rant, we break down insights from Max Bultman’s latest reporting on:

• Yzerman’s blunt message to...

The Detroit Red Wings season didn’t end with a whimper… it ended with an 8-1 collapse against the Florida Panthers.

And honestly? It felt fitting.

In this quick season wrap episode of Red Wings Rant, we break down:

• Why this loss perfectly summarizes the Red Wings’ season
• The three big-picture questions raised by Max Bultman
• Whether Steve Yzerman needs to rethink his approach
• The report that Detroit was w...

The season is over.

And if you’re still holding onto hope, let me ask you this:

What else do you need to see?

The Detroit Red Wings just lost again—this time blowing a late lead with 17 seconds left against the Columbus Blue Jackets before losing in a shootout.

Three straight losses.
Multiple late-game collapses.
Points handed directly to the teams you’re chasing.

Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators are takin...

The calendar flipped to March… and so did the Detroit Red Wings season.

For the fourth straight year, the Red Wings fell apart when it mattered most. What once looked like a playoff team — built on health, momentum, and elite goaltending — completely unraveled.

This episode of Red Wings Rant breaks down:

The illusion of early-season success driven by health and hot goaltending

The drop-off from elite to “ju...

The Detroit Red Wings are running out of time… and answers.

After spending most of the season near the top of the Eastern Conference, the Wings have now dropped to 10th place following brutal back-to-back losses to the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators.

Against Boston, it felt like a win stolen.
Jeremy Swayman stood on his head, stopping everything and completely flipping the game.

But against Ottawa? That’s where...

The Detroit Red Wings are still fighting for their playoff lives — and somehow, they’re still standing.

After a brutal stretch that saw Detroit sliding down the standings, the Wings managed to steal a point against the Dallas Stars in a game they had no business staying in early. A rare mistake from Jake Oettinger opened the door… and Detroit walked right through it.

Then came a must-win game against the Calgary ...

The Detroit Red Wings were two minutes away from building momentum.

Instead, they blew a late 3-2 lead to the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers and lost 4-3 after allowing two goals in just a couple minutes.

A missed clear by Simon Edvinsson and a weak defensive sequence involving Justin Faulk turned a potential win into another brutal March collapse.

Now the Red Wings are fighting to hold onto a wild card spot.

Detro...

The Detroit Red Wings finally made their move at the NHL trade deadline.

Steve Yzerman adds two key pieces for the playoff push — bringing back veteran winger David Perron and acquiring top-four defenseman Justin Faulk.

Detroit sent:

• A conditional 4th-round pick for Perron
• A 1st-round pick, 3rd-round pick and Justin Holl to St. Louis for Faulk

Perron returns to Detroit after previously playing with the Red Wings from...

The Detroit Red Wings have done everything asked of them this season.

They’ve responded to adversity. They’ve improved their penalty kill. They’ve stayed in the playoff race all year long.

Now with the NHL trade deadline approaching, the pressure shifts to Steve Yzerman.

Inspired by the latest analysis from Max Bultman, this episode of R...

The Olympic break is over. The NHL trade freeze is lifted. And the Detroit Red Wings are back to work.

In this episode of Red Wings Rant, we reset the table on everything:

• The latest trade rumors involving Elias Pettersson, Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou and Justin Faulk • Why Detroit still desperately needs top-six scoring and legitimate defensive help • H...

The NHL is on Olympic break — and the Detroit Red Wings are sitting third in the Atlantic Division.

But what does that actually mean?

According to Max Bultman’s latest mailbag, the Eastern Conference cut line may land closer to 99 points this year — not the 91–92 we’ve seen recently. That makes the simple “.500 hockey gets you in” narrative a little too comfo...