In the 10th of a 32 part series leading up to the start of the 2025-26 National Hockey League regular season, we will look at the key off-season transactions made by all NHL organizations with an overall grade. Here are the Detroit Red Wings.
The Red Wings added four new players in the offseason. They are goaltender John Gibson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker of Banff, Alberta, left winger James Van Riemsdyk of Middletown. New Jersey, and forward Mason Appleton of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Let’s take a look at all four players.
John Gibson
The Red Wings are bringing in a new number one goalie as Gibson was traded from the Anaheim Ducks to the Red Wings for goaltender Petr Mrazek of Ostrava, Czech Republic and two draft picks on June 28. The draft picks are a second round pick in 2027, and fourth round pick in 2026.
Gibson has spent the last dozen seasons with the Ducks. A three-time NHL All-Star (2016, 2019, 2022), Gibson had a record of 11 wins and 11 regulation losses, and two losses in extra time in 2024-25, with a goals against average of 2.77 and a save percentage of .911. He is expected to be backed up by Cam Talbot of Caledonia, Ontario this year.
James Van Riemsdyk
Van Riemsdyk signed a one-year deal worth $1 million. He previously spent eight seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, six seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and one season each with the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets. In Detroit, Van Riemsdyk is expected to be on the Red Wings’s number one line alongside Dylan Larkin of Waterford, Michigan, and Lucas Raymond of Gothenburg, Sweden.
This past season, van Riemsdyk had 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points in 71 games in Columbus. He was a -4 with 23 penalty minutes, two power-play points, two game-winning goals, 85 shots on goal, six faceoff wins, 16 blocked shots, 31 hits, five takeaways, and 40 giveaways. Van Riemsdyk’s game-winning goals came in a 5-1 Blue Jackets win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 22, and in a 6-4 Blue Jackets win over the Dallas Stars on February 25.
Mason Appleton
Appleton signed a two-year deal worth $2.9 million on July 2. He is expected to be on the Red Wings’s third line alongside Michael Rasmussen of Vancouver, British Columbia and J.T. Compher of Northbrook, Illinois.
Appleton is joining his third NHL team after seven seasons with the Winnipeg Jets and one season with the Seattle Kraken. This past season with the Jets, Appleton had 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 71 games. He was a +7 with 22 penalty minutes, one power-play point, three game-winning goals, 10 faceoff wins, 29 blocked shots, 76 hits, 15 takeaways, and 38 giveaways. Appleton’s power-play point was a power-play assist and came on a goal by defenseman Colin Miller of Sault. Ste. Marie, Ontario in a 4-0 Jets win over the Vegas Golden Knights on April 3.
Jacob Bernard-Docker
Bernard-Docker is joining his third NHL franchise. Last season he shared his time with the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres after spending five seasons with the Senators organization. Bernard-Docker’s contract was one year, and $875,000 on Canada Day. This past season, Bernard-Docker had two goals and six assists for eight points.
Red Wings Team Grade
Detroit’s team grade for the offseason is a C. Gibson has been dealing with injuries this past season, and only played 29 games as a result. He was effective in the Ducks’s pipes when he was in net. Van Riemsdyk and Appleton can provide offense, but Van Riemsdyk is not really suited for Detroit’s number one line.
