League: NHL Sport: Hockey Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Red Wings aim for increased scoring through physical play strategies

2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 21, 2026, 6:24 PM

Last updated Sep 21, 2026

Red Wings aim for increased scoring through physical play strategies

Summary

The Detroit Red Wings are looking to enhance their scoring capabilities during the 2026-27 season by adopting a more physical style of play. They recently acquired Keenan Kolesar from the Vegas Golden Knights, who was seventh in the league with 270 hits last season. Coach Todd McLellan has emphasized the need for the team to become harder to play against, believing this approach can lead to creating turnovers and more scoring opportunities. The Red Wings ranked 22nd in scoring last season and plan to further utilize young hitters like Marco Kasper and Moritz Seider alongside Kolesar to achieve this goal. They aim to improve their hitting statistics, which were among the lowest last season.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Keenan Kolesar acquired for a third and seventh-round pick.
•Red Wings ranked 22nd in the league in scoring last season.
•Team emphasized the importance of creating turnovers through physical play.
•Coach McLellan expects improved performance and scoring from a more aggressive style.
•Young players like Marco Kasper and Moritz Seider are seen as key contributors.

Latest Updates

6:24 PMYahoo Sports — Red Wings aiming to be tougher, 'heavier' team
8:39 PMYahoo Sports — Red Wings Hope to Increase Scoring By Being More Physical

What they're saying

"
For too many years, the Red Wings have been a team that simply wasn't hard to play against. They're aiming to change that this season.
— Yahoo Sports