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Updated NHL power rankings prove the Red Wings aren't to be taken lightly


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Julien Trekker
October 30, 2025  (12:46)
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Oct 28, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) is congratulated by left wing Lucas Raymond (23) and defenseman Travis Hamonic (52) after scoring an empty net goal against the St. Louis Blues during the third period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Photo credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

According to the latest NHL power rankings, the Detroit Red Wings organization shouldn't be taken lightly.

Not a lot of people could've predicted how the 2025-26 NHL regular season started.
Less than a month after the official start of the season, the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings are leading the Atlantic Division, with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs struggling; the Utah Mammoth are leading the Central Division; the Kraken are 2nd in the Pacific; and the Penguins are 2nd in the Metropolitan.
B/R Open Ice released their own power rankings, and it highlights the Wings' great start to the season.

Detroit Red Wings Rank 8th In Updated NHL Power Rankings After Great Start

For the first time since he was hired as head coach of the Wings, Todd McLellan can look at his team and be satisfied with the results.
Across the league, their success is also being noticed, which will only make this harder for the team.
However, just like the grind of an NHL season, the team has to embrace it all.
"We really don't have any choice but to embrace it. We're not the only team in the League. There are 31 others that must get out on the road and play half their season there. Travel becomes a factor. Back-to-back games become a factor. It's not just about the Detroit Red Wings - everybody goes through this. The teams that are mentally strong and well-equipped handle it the way they should. The teams that are still working on it kind of fumble through it, and then there are the others. We certainly don't want to be either of those last two. We'd like to be the team that handles it well."

"They knew they needed to work and improve in certain areas, and it showed up in the game. Now, that's one night. We've been saying this basically all year, 'Can we bottle it? Can we travel with it? Can we maintain it?' We're still working hard on starts, trying to get out of the gate better than we have over the last few games."

The Wings' captain, Dylan Larkin, also talked about the team's philosophy after a great start but mentioned that the real challenge is doing so for the full season:
"We really put what we practiced into the game. It showed. We didn't give up much, and I'm sure Todd would tell you there's probably tons of good and positive clips. Over the last week or so, with our tracking especially, that wasn't so positive. He gave us a little bit of a pat on the back today that we took what we practiced and taught to do into the game."

"Every point matters. I think the next challenge for us is, with how we play and skate, we're going to be in games. Where we're at in the standings right now, it's still very early, but teams are going to be coming for us. They're going to bring their best against us, and that's something we're not used to. When you're at the top of the standings, teams want to beat you. You have to be ready every night."

Of course, this early in the season, power rankings don't necessarily mean as much as they will in a few months. A single tough stretch could make the Wings fall in the standings, while a winning streak could propel them even higher.
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OCTOBRE 30   |   378 ANSWERS
Updated NHL power rankings prove the Red Wings aren't to be taken lightly

Do you think the Red Wings will finish in the top 3 of the Atlantic Division?

Yes24965.9 %
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