Early line projections come out for Detroit Red Wings 2025-26 offence. 

As the Detroit Red Wings prepare for the next NHL season, the buzz around their projected lineup has started to commence with fans wondering what they can expect to see from the 2025-26 team. 

It's very early to say what the coaching staff decide to roll out with but Daily Faceoff has started their early predictions for the Red Wings lineup and it appears to have some accurate aspects to it. 

We look to break down the projected top 12 forwards and how likely it is for the lines to come into fruition come opening night. With the help of MoneyPuck, we'll be looking at some numbers available for the lines past performance and how successful they were. 

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1st Line: James van Riemsdyk - Dylan Larkin - Lucas Raymond

There was never any doubt that we would see the dynamic duo of Larkin and Raymond on the top line but the team's newest addition in veteran James van Riemsdyk is a surprising sight. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman spoke to the versatility of van Riemsdyk's potential role with the team and that he could see minutes anywhere from the top line to the third with some also on the power play. 

The 36-year-old New Jersey native has found middle-six consistency in old age with 36 or more points in all but one of his last nine seasons. He is an elite netfront presence as uses his large frame at 6-foot-3 almost 210 pounds to carve out a spot in front of the net and impose his will upon opposing defenders. Last season, van Riemsdyk scored 16 goals with all but two of them coming from the slot. 

This is a trend for van Riemsdyk as 33 of his 39 of his goals over the last three seasons have come from the netfront and could give Larkin and Raymond a chance to dish the puck around the zone with the help of the blueline while JVR applies screens and tries to tip in pucks.

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2nd Line: Alex DeBrincat - Marco Kasper - Patrick Kane

Detroit's second line trio was the most effective last season with a team-best plus/minus as a unit at +4 on the season after playing 192.2 minutes together over 30 games. Kasper's 14 points over his final 18 games was noted by many including Yzerman, who said that the team would like to see him continue and prolong his stellar play into this upcoming season. 

The Red Wings elite top line with Larkin and Raymond normally garner all the league's toughest defenders while the second line can hopefully excel and put up more solid numbers with more time together this season. 

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3rd Line: Elmer Soderblom - J.T. Compher - Jonatan Berggren

Two recent re-signings for the franchise will be featured alongside Compher, who is looking to bounce back after a lackluster season. The veteran centre finished with 32 points last season and was a disappointment after recording 48 and 52 points in the two seasons prior.

Compher will have the chance to help two newcomers find their footing with a 6-foot-8 giant in Soderblom and a former second round pick in Berggren. 

Both players are looking to carve out a role for themselves and could learn from the newcomers joining the team. Soderblom could look to better utilize his large frame with the help of van Riemsdyk and Mason Appleton while Berggren and Compher move the puck and make plays around the netfront.

Not too many teams have gone against Soderblom before and with his mystery box upside as an everyday player, there's no telling what this line could be. 

4th Line: Michael Rasmussen - Andrew Copp - Mason Appleton

Appleton is coming from a system where he excelled playing alongside a physical player like Jets captain Adam Lowry and he should find some chemistry with a player like Rasmussen on his opposite wing.

The fourth line would likely be used as a physical, forechecking unit that can lay the body and keep opposing forward groups in check. Rasmussen is a towering 6-foot-6 and could help with the forecheck while Copp tries to bring some level of offence down the middle as a regular 30-40 point producer. 

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