The 2018–19 Detroit Red Wings season was the 93rd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. It was also the Red Wings' second season at Little Caesars Arena. The team was eliminated from playoff contention on March 12, 2019, and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row for the first time since the 1980–81 season and the 1982–83 season.

Off-season On June 22, the Red Wings hired Dan Bylsma as an assistant coach.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason 2018 preseason game log: 7–1–0 (Home: 4–0–0; Road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 19 Pittsburgh 2–3 Detroit OT Sateri 15,107 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 20 Chicago 2–4 Detroit Rybar 16,475 2–0–0 Recap 3 September 22 Boston 3–4 Detroit OT Howard 16,855 3–0–0 Recap 4 September 23 Detroit 3–2 Pittsburgh Sateri 18,306 4–0–0 Recap 5 September 25 Detroit 8–6 Chicago Howard 19,864 5–0–0 Recap 6 September 26 Detroit 3–2 Boston OT Bernier 17,565 6–0–0 Recap 7 September 28 Detroit 2–6 Toronto Howard 18,889 6–1–0 Recap 8 September 29 Toronto 1–5 Detroit Bernier 18,753 7–1–0 Recap

Regular season 2018–19 game log: 32–40–10 (Home: 17–19–5; Road: 15–21–5)October: 3–7–2 (Home: 1–3–1; Road: 2–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 4 Columbus 3–2 Detroit OT Howard 19,515 0–0–1 1 Recap 2 October 7 Detroit 2–4 Los Angeles Bernier 18,230 0–1–1 1 Recap 3 October 8 Detroit 2–3 Anaheim SO Howard 17,436 0–1–2 2 Recap 4 October 11 Toronto 5–3 Detroit Howard 19,515 0–2–2 2 Recap 5 October 13 Detroit 2–8 Boston Bernier 17,565 0–3–2 2 Recap 6 October 15 Detroit 3–7 Montreal Howard 20,323 0–4–2 2 Recap 7 October 18 Detroit 1–3 Tampa Bay Howard 19,092 0–5–2 2 Recap 8 October 20 Detroit 4–3 Florida OT Howard 14,534 1–5–2 4 Recap 9 October 22 Carolina 3–1 Detroit Howard 19,515 1–6–2 4 Recap 10 October 26 Winnipeg 2–1 Detroit Howard 19,515 1–7–2 4 Recap 11 October 28 Dallas 2–4 Detroit Bernier 19,515 2–7–2 6 Recap 12 October 30 Detroit 5–3 Columbus Howard 14,288 3–7–2 8 RecapNovember: 8–4–1 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 13 November 1 New Jersey 3–4 Detroit Howard 18,273 4–7–2 10 Recap 14 November 3 Edmonton 4–3 Detroit Bernier 19,515 4–8–2 10 Recap 15 November 6 Vancouver 2–3 Detroit SO Howard 18,640 5–8–2 12 Recap 16 November 9 N.Y. Rangers 2–3 Detroit OT Howard 19,515 6–8–2 14 Recap 17 November 10 Detroit 4–3 Carolina SO Bernier 13,029 7–8–2 16 Recap 18 November 13 Arizona 1–6 Detroit Howard 18,257 8–8–2 18 Recap 19 November 15 Detroit 1–2 Ottawa Howard 13,402 8–9–2 18 Recap 20 November 17 Detroit 3–2 New Jersey OT Bernier 16,514 9–9–2 20 Recap 21 November 21 Boston 2–3 Detroit OT Howard 19,515 10–9–2 22 Recap 22 November 23 Detroit 1–3 Washington Bernier 18,506 10–10–2 22 Recap 23 November 24 Buffalo 3–2 Detroit SO Howard 19,515 10–10–3 23 Recap 24 November 26 Columbus 7–5 Detroit Bernier 19,515 10–11–3 23 Recap 25 November 28 St. Louis 3–4 Detroit Howard 18,165 11–11–3 25 RecapDecember: 4–8–4 (Home: 1–4–2; Road: 3–4–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 1 Detroit 4–2 Boston Howard 17,565 12–11–3 27 Recap 27 December 2 Colorado 2–0 Detroit Bernier 18,248 12–12–3 27 Recap 28 December 4 Tampa Bay 6–5 Detroit SO Howard 18,477 12–12–4 28 Recap 29 December 6 Detroit 5–4 Toronto OT Bernier 19,392 13–12–4 30 Recap 30 December 8 N.Y. Islanders 3–2 Detroit Bernier 19,515 13–13–4 30 Recap 31 December 10 Los Angeles 1–3 Detroit Howard 18,322 14–13–4 32 Recap 32 December 11 Detroit 2–6 Washington Bernier 18,506 14–14–4 32 Recap 33 December 14 Ottawa 4–2 Detroit Howard 18,330 14–15–4 32 Recap 34 December 15 Detroit 3–4 N.Y. Islanders SO Bernier 13,917 14–15–5 33 Recap 35 December 18 Detroit 2–3 Philadelphia Bernier 19,255 14–16–5 33 Recap 36 December 20 Detroit 4–1 Carolina Bernier 13,548 15–16–5 35 Recap 37 December 22 Florida 2–1 Detroit Howard 19,515 15–17–5 35 Recap 38 December 23 Detroit 4–5 Toronto OT Bernier 19,196 15–17–6 36 Recap 39 December 27 Detroit 2–5 Pittsburgh Howard 18,639 15–18–6 36 Recap 40 December 29 Detroit 1–5 Dallas Bernier 18,532 15–19–6 36 Recap 41 December 31 Florida 4–3 Detroit SO Howard 19,515 15–19–7 37 RecapJanuary: 4–6–0 (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 2–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 42 January 2 Calgary 5–3 Detroit Howard 19,515 15–20–7 37 Recap 43 January 4 Nashville 3–4 Detroit OT Howard 19,515 16–20–7 39 Recap 44 January 6 Washington 3–2 Detroit Howard 19,515 16–21–7 39 Recap 45 January 8 Montreal 3–2 Detroit Howard 19,515 16–22–7 39 Recap 46 January 11 Detroit 2–4 Winnipeg Bernier 15,321 16–23–7 39 Recap 47 January 12 Detroit 5–2 Minnesota Howard 19,087 17–23–7 41 Recap 48 January 15 Anaheim 1–3 Detroit Howard 19,515 18–23–7 43 Recap 49 January 18 Detroit 4–6 Calgary Howard 19,289 18–24–7 43 Recap 50 January 20 Detroit 2–3 Vancouver Bernier 18,865 18–25–7 43 Recap 51 January 22 Detroit 3–2 Edmonton Howard 18,347 19–25–7 45 RecapFebruary: 4–7–2 (Home: 2–5–1; Road: 2–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 52 February 1 Toronto 2–3 Detroit OT Howard 19,515 20–25–7 47 Recap 53 February 2 Detroit 2–0 Ottawa Bernier 15,714 21–25–7 49 Recap 54 February 7 Vegas 4–3 Detroit Howard 18,889 21–26–7 49 Recap 55 February 9 Detroit 1–3 Buffalo Howard 19,070 21–27–7 49 Recap 56 February 10 Detroit 2–5 Chicago Bernier 21,941 21–28–7 49 Recap 57 February 12 Detroit 3–2 Nashville Howard 17,260 22–28–7 51 Recap 58 February 14 Ottawa 2–3 Detroit Howard 18,575 23–28–7 53 Recap 59 February 16 Detroit 5–6 Philadelphia OT Bernier 19,342 23–28–8 54 Recap 60 February 17 Philadelphia 3–1 Detroit Howard 19,515 23–29–8 54 Recap 61 February 20 Chicago 5–4 Detroit OT Bernier 18,806 23–29–9 55 Recap 62 February 22 Minnesota 3–2 Detroit Bernier 19,515 23–30–9 55 Recap 63 February 24 San Jose 5–3 Detroit Bernier 19,515 23–31–9 55 Recap 64 February 26 Montreal 8–1 Detroit Howard 18,845 23–32–9 55 RecapMarch: 8–6–1 (Home: 4–1–0; Road: 4–5–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 2 Detroit 1–3 Arizona Howard 15,552 23–33–9 55 Recap 66 March 5 Detroit 3–4 Colorado OT Bernier 18,011 23–33–10 56 Recap 67 March 7 N.Y. Rangers 2–3 Detroit SO Howard 18,333 24–33–10 58 Recap 68 March 9 Detroit 2–3 Tampa Bay Bernier 19,092 24–34–10 58 Recap 69 March 10 Detroit 1–6 Florida Howard 15,238 24–35–10 58 Recap 70 March 12 Detroit 1–3 Montreal Bernier 21,302 24–36–10 58 Recap 71 March 14 Tampa Bay 5–4 Detroit Howard 19,515 24–37–10 58 Recap 72 March 16 N.Y. Islanders 1–2 Detroit Bernier 19,515 25–37–10 60 Recap 73 March 19 Detroit 3–2 N.Y. Rangers Howard 17,183 26–37–10 62 Recap 74 March 21 Detroit 2–5 St. Louis Bernier 18,272 26–38–10 62 Recap 75 March 23 Detroit 3–2 Vegas OT Howard 18,437 27–38–10 64 Recap 76 March 25 Detroit 3–2 San Jose Bernier 17,393 28–38–10 66 Recap 77 March 28 Detroit 5–4 Buffalo OT Howard 16,236 29–38–10 68 Recap 78 March 29 New Jersey 0–4 Detroit Bernier 19,515 30–38–10 70 Recap 79 March 31 Boston 3–6 Detroit Howard 19,515 31–38–10 72 RecapApril: 1–2–0 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 0–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 2 Pittsburgh 1–4 Detroit Howard 19,515 32–38–10 74 Recap 81 April 4 Detroit 1–4 Pittsburgh Howard 18,574 32–39–10 74 Recap 82 April 6 Buffalo 7–1 Detroit Howard 19,515 32–40–10 74 RecapLegend:

Player statistics

Skaters Regular season Player 76 32 41 73 −6 75 76 30 24 54 −9 38 ‡ 62 16 33 49 0 8 67 25 23 48 −8 30 73 21 26 47 11 36 64 16 20 36 −12 26 72 10 25 35 −7 14 79 3 24 27 −5 40 43 5 21 26 −1 28 78 10 13 23 2 15 46 5 18 23 −10 30 52 5 15 20 2 39 71 6 13 19 −14 38 62 8 10 18 −8 29 61 7 10 17 −11 20 52 7 9 16 −20 16 ‡ 60 2 13 15 1 17 60 3 6 9 −13 16 60 3 6 9 −5 6 44 2 6 8 −3 12 10 1 6 7 0 2 30 1 5 6 −9 4 52 3 2 5 −10 35 17 1 3 4 −4 8 9 1 2 3 −5 0 34 0 2 2 −5 23 8 1 0 1 −2 2 11 0 1 1 −4 2 3 0 1 1 0 2 11 0 0 0 −9 0 10 0 0 0 −4 0 7 0 0 0 2 4 6 0 0 0 −4 6 5 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 −3 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 55 52 3,053 23 22 5 156 3.07 1,709 .909 0 0 1 2 35 30 1,860 9 18 5 98 3.16 1,025 .904 1 0 0 0 1 0 28 0 0 0 2 4.44 11 .818 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Red Wings. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Awards and honours

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL Second Star of the Week April 1, 2019

Milestones

Regular season Player Milestone Reached 1st career NHL game1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point October 4, 2018 1st career NHL game October 4, 2018 1st career NHL game October 4, 2018 1st career NHL game October 4, 2018 1st career NHL game October 4, 2018 Dennis Cholowski 1st career NHL assist October 7, 2018 100th career NHL point October 8, 2018 Michael Rasmussen 1st career NHL point1st career NHL assist October 8, 2018 Christoffer Ehn 1st career NHL point1st career NHL assist October 11, 2018 Filip Hronek 1st career NHL point1st career NHL assist October 11, 2018 Filip Hronek 1st career NHL goal October 13, 2018 Michael Rasmussen 1st career NHL goal October 30, 2018 400th career NHL assist November 23, 2018 Danny DeKeyser 400th career NHL game December 2, 2018 300th career NHL point December 15, 2018 Trevor Daley 1,000th career NHL game December 23, 2018 Christoffer Ehn 1st career NHL goal December 23, 2018 100th career NHL point January 2, 2019 Thomas Vanek 1,000th career NHL game January 4, 2019 1st career NHL hat-trick January 12, 2019 500th career NHL game February 14, 2019 300th career NHL game February 16, 2019 Dylan Larkin 200th career NHL point February 22, 2019 1st career NHL game February 24, 2019 Filip Zadina 1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point March 5, 2019 Filip Zadina 1st career NHL assist March 9, 2019 100th career NHL goal March 14, 2019 100th career NHL point March 14, 2019 1st career NHL game March 16, 2019 1st career NHL game1st career NHL point1st career NHL assist March 19, 2019 1st career NHL game March 29, 2019 Taro Hirose 1st career NHL goal March 31, 2019 1st career NHL game April 6, 2019

Records On April 2, Tyler Bertuzzi recorded two goals and one assist in a 4–1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He became the first player in Red Wings franchise history to record four consecutive three-point games.

Suspensions/fines Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Tyler Bertuzzi Roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct against Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Calvert during NHL game No. 410 in Detroit on Sunday, December 2, 2018, at 12:45 of the third period. 2 games $15,053.76 December 3, 2018

Transactions The Red Wings have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Columbus Blue JacketsMTL's 6th-round pick in 2018To Detroit Red Wings5th-round pick in 2019 To Arizona CoyotesRobbie RussoTo Detroit Red WingsConditional 7th-round pick in 2019 To Washington CapitalsNick JensenBUF's 5th-round pick in 2019To Detroit Red WingsMadison Bowey2nd-round pick in 2020 To San Jose SharksGustav NyquistTo Detroit Red WingsConditional 2nd-round pick in 2019Conditional 3rd-round pick in 2020

Free agents