Red Wings’ Initial 23-Man Roster Far From Set In Stone

The Detroit Red Wings have their initial 23-man roster, but they do not necessarily have their opening night roster. That distinction is important as Detroit prepares to open the 2026-27 season. 

• Forwards (14): Lucas Raymond, Andrew Copp, Alex DeBrincat, Emmitt Finnie, Marco Kasper, Viktor Arvidsson, Mason Appleton, Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Michael Rasmussen, J.T. Compher, Keegan Kolesar, Dylan Larkin, Carter Mazur.
• Defense (7): Moritz Seider, Albert Johansson, Justin Faulk, Anton Johansson, Ben Chiarot, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, William Wallinder.
• Goalies (2): John Gibson, Daniil Tarasov.

This roster is incomplete, though. Here’s why.

3 Pending Moves Will Force Detroit to Adjust Its Roster

Trade request aside, Dylan Larkin has been nursing an upper-body injury since the start of training camp. He’s been practicing lately, and a clean bill of health will have a downstream impact on the rest of the lineup – provided he stays on the team.

Detroit has spent training camp and the preseason building its lineup without Larkin. That has allowed players such as Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson, and Andrew Copp to occupy different roles down the middle, while McLellan has experimented with his wingers around them.

Larkin’s return would not simply mean inserting one player into the lineup. Someone currently playing center—most likely Copp—would have to move down the depth chart, and that would likely create another adjustment elsewhere.

The same applies to the wings. Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat have skated exclusively with Copp apart from a short stint with Larkin during Monday’s practice. If Larkin returns, do the Red Wings continue to stack the top line? Or do they move DeBrincat back to the second line for a more balanced offensive attack?

Detroit’s defensemen are in a similar situation, but the eventual signing of Simon Edvinsson will at least return the young blueliner to a predefined role alongside Moritz Seider. As for everyone else – that’s unclear.

The Red Wings paired Albert Johansson and Justin Faulk together for most of training camp and the preseason. Ben Chiarot would occupy a third-pair role. Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess who remains in Detroit.

Waiver eligibility could play a role here. Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Anton Johansson impressed during the preseason, but are exempt from waivers. A safe choice would be to assign one to Grand Rapids when Edvinsson returns.

Detroit has several young defensemen who are still developing, and sending a waiver-exempt player to Grand Rapids would be considerably easier than exposing a player who could be claimed by another NHL team. The organization therefore has to balance its evaluation of the players against the risk of losing one through waivers.

Another variable is the newly acquired Andreas Englund. The Red Wings claimed the veteran defenseman off waivers, but he remains on the non-roster immigration list. Once he is cleared to join the team, Detroit will have to decide how to fit him into the active roster.

McLellan’s comments about Englund suggest that the coaching staff views him as a legitimate NHL option rather than simply a player who will be assigned to Grand Rapids once his immigration situation is resolved.

“He will fit our room really well,” noted McLellan. “He’s fit, he works hard at his game, he has played in the system that we’re trying to put in, and he’s physical and he’s tough and he shepherds the group. So, we like all those attributes that he’ll bring in. When he’s in the lineup, he’ll give you everything he has, and when he’s not in the lineup, he’ll give you everything he can from the outside.”

That matters because Englund would give Detroit something its younger defensemen cannot necessarily provide: an experienced, physical depth option who can step into the lineup when needed. But if Detroit keeps him on the NHL roster, another roster move will be necessary.

That could put additional pressure on the younger defensemen competing for NHL jobs. The Red Wings may have to decide whether the developmental value of keeping a younger player in Detroit outweighs the organizational value of retaining an experienced seventh defenseman.

Edvinsson’s signing will already require Detroit to make a roster move. Englund’s (official) arrival could force another one shortly afterward.

Detroit’s Initial Roster Is Only the First Version

The Red Wings’ 23-man roster gives us a better idea of how Detroit will begin the season, but it does not provide a definitive picture of how the roster will look once the team is fully healthy and all of its players are available.

Larkin’s return could force changes throughout the forward group, particularly if he resumes his role as the No. 1 center. Edvinsson’s eventual contract will require Detroit to remove another defenseman from the active roster. Englund’s return from the immigration list could create another defensive decision.

Detroit has to account for waiver eligibility, player development, lineup balance, and the coaching staff’s preferences while making each decision. The organization also has to preserve enough flexibility to respond to injuries and performance once the season begins.

Given this, we could see quite a few line and pairing combinations this week in advance of Friday’s season opener. That, and several transactions to roster the 23 best-fitting players in the organization.