
Detroit's decade-long playoff drought persists as offense stalls
Detroit missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th straight season, the NHL's longest active drought, after a late-season slide and a stagnant offense that averaged 2.59 goals per game since Jan. 24. Veterans underperformed even as the team posted a higher points percentage (.569) and stars like DeBrincat, Larkin and Seider delivered career highs. While the season exposed scoring woes and close-call losses, Detroit can take optimism from a rising youth movement and a strong prospect pipeline heading toward 2026-27.












