The Detroit Red Wings remain firmly in the Atlantic Division race — and this week proved why.

Detroit delivered two massive statement wins, blanking the red-hot Montreal Canadiens 4–0 on the road and gutting out an overtime victory against the Carolina Hurricanes, another Eastern Conference heavyweight. Those weren’t flukes — they were games where the Wings showed structure, composure, and the ability to shut teams down.

Detroit’s 3–0 loss to the Boston Bruins looks ugly on the surface, but context matters. This was the second night of a back-to-back after an emotional overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes, followed by travel from Detroit to Boston. The third period turned into a possession nightmare, and it was clear the legs were gone. Not a great performance — but not a true reflection of who this team has been all season. Sometimes fatigue wins, and this felt like one of those nights.

We also dig into trade chatter after Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts that Detroit is among the frontrunners for Rasmus Andersson. His raw numbers don’t jump off the page, but when you factor in his workload as Calgary’s No. 1 defenseman, the fit in Detroit — behind Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson — gets very interesting.

Nex, we discuss the unexpected name surfacing around the league: Dougie Hamilton. After being scratched in New Jersey and trade noise picking up, does his offensive upside outweigh the $9M cap hit and term? And would Detroit even want to commit long-term?

Looking ahead, Detroit gets a chance to reset with games against the San Jose Sharks and the Ottawa Senators. After handling Ottawa on the road just a week ago, the question now is simple: do the Senators come in desperate for revenge, or does Detroit continue to assert itself as the more complete team? These are the kinds of games that matter in the standings — opportunities to bank points, control pace, and prove that the Wings belong in the top tier of the Atlantic.

Big wins, smart context, and real trade talk — let’s rant.

JOIN THE DISCORD: https://discord.gg/rd2RUDkzuS

Let’s have fun!

Sponsored by Draft Kings!

Find us on your favorite Podcast App by clicking here: https://link.chtbl.com/redwingsrant

Episode sponsored by Draft Kings. Use promo code 'THPN' to unlock exclusive offers when you sign up!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.