Red Wings vs. Jets New Year’s Eve Showdown

The Detroit Red Wings will close out 2025 by welcoming the Winnipeg Jets to Little Caesars Arena for the club’s traditional New Year’s Eve game. Detroit enters Wednesday night sitting atop the Atlantic Division after posting a 10‑3‑1 record in December and notching three consecutive overtime victories, including a 3‑2 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Winnipeg, meanwhile, arrives in Detroit on a six‑game losing streak and has slipped to the bottom of the NHL standings. The game also reunites Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, teammates for 16 seasons in Chicago, as opponents for the first time in their NHL careers.

Game Information

• Matchup: Winnipeg Jets (15‑18‑4) vs. Detroit Red Wings (23‑14‑3)
• Date/Time: Wednesday, December 31, 2025 – 6:30 p.m. ET
• Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
• Television/Radio: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit; Radio 97.1 The Ticket
• Series History: 37th all‑time meeting (Red Wings lead 18‑16‑0‑2); first meeting of the 2025‑26 season
• Records: Red Wings 13‑7‑1 at home; Jets 7‑10‑2 on the road
• Storylines: New Year’s Eve tradition (Detroit is 39‑25‑8‑2 on Dec. 31 and 4‑2‑1 since moving to Little Caesars Arena); Kane vs. Toews reunion; first meeting between the clubs this season

Event Details

Detroit’s New Year’s Eve game has become a staple on the calendar, and the atmosphere should be electric as the Red Wings continue their remarkable turnaround under coach Todd McLellan. Detroit has not qualified for the playoffs since 2016, but a 10‑3‑1 December surge has propelled the club into first place in the Atlantic Division. The Red Wings are 13‑7‑1 on home ice and have won five of their last six one‑goal games, while the Jets are 7‑10‑2 away from Winnipeg and have suffered six straight losses, five by one goal. The all‑time series is tight (18‑16‑0‑2 in Detroit’s favor) and the teams split their two meetings last season. Wednesday’s contest is the opener of a two‑game season series; they will meet again in Winnipeg on Jan. 24.

Player Contributions

Red Wings

• Dylan Larkin – Center: The Waterford Township native is Detroit’s captain and the engine of the top line. A two‑way center known for his speed and puck protection, he has 31 assists and remains one of the team’s most consistent offensive threats. Larkin also has 12 points in 18 career games against the Jets.
• Lucas Raymond – Left Wing: The 23‑year‑old Swede leads the Red Wings with 37 points (10 goals, 27 assists). Scouting reports praise his elite hockey sense and quick hands. Raymond has nine points in eight games against Winnipeg and often facilitates scoring with his vision and passing.
• Alex DeBrincat – Right Wing: The Farmington Hills product has a team‑leading 20 goals. DeBrincat, drafted 39th overall in 2016, is a natural finisher and has produced six goals and three assists over his last 10 games.
• Moritz Seider – Defense: The 6‑foot‑3 German blue‑liner, drafted sixth overall in 2019, anchors Detroit’s defense and logs heavy minutes. Seider has recorded 12 assists in eight career games versus Winnipeg and has contributed seven goals this season, including the tying tally in the victory over Toronto.
• Patrick Kane – Right Wing: After missing six games with an upper‑body injury, the 37‑year‑old returned on Sunday and needs two goals to reach the 500‑goal milestone. Kane has 52 points in 47 career games against Winnipeg and will face former teammate Jonathan Toews for the first time as an NHL opponent.
• James van Riemsdyk – Left Wing: Van Riemsdyk practiced Tuesday and coach Todd McLellan said he “looked good”. The veteran has nine goals this season, eight since Nov. 26. Van Riemsdyk said he feels “much better now” after missing games with a lingering injury and stressed that a good team quickly moves past bad games.
• Mason Appleton – Right Wing: Signed from Winnipeg in the off‑season, Appleton scored the tying goal against Toronto and emphasised the team’s belief, saying the Red Wings “bounced back after tough performances” and have great confidence in the room. Appleton was originally drafted by the Jets and recorded 121 points in 351 games for Winnipeg.

Jets

• Mark Scheifele – Center: Winnipeg’s leader with 45 points (18 goals, 27 assists) is the catalyst of the Jets’ offense. Scheifele has 20 points in 20 career games against Detroit and logs heavy minutes on the top line and first power‑play unit.
• Kyle Connor – Left Wing: A Shelby Township native who starred at the University of Michigan, Connor remains one of the league’s purest goal scorers. He has eight goals and eight assists in 14 games against Detroit. Connor’s speed and quick release will test Detroit’s defence.
• Gabriel Vilardi – Right Wing: Acquired from Los Angeles in 2023, Vilardi has six points in five career games against the Red Wings and works alongside Scheifele and Connor on the top line. His size (6‑foot‑3, 203 lbs) and puck‑protection abilities pose match‑up issues.
• Jonathan Toews – Center: Toews signed a one‑year deal with his hometown Jets after a two‑year hiatus caused by chronic inflammatory response syndrome and the effects of long COVID. He admitted it will feel “strange” to face Kane as an opponent but looks forward to the challenge. Toews has 37 points in 48 career games against Detroit and centres Winnipeg’s third line and second power play unit.
• Josh Morrissey – Defense: Morrissey is set to play his 700th career game and quarterbacks the Jets’ top pair. He has 10 goals and 26 assists this season and plays heavy minutes in all situations.
• Connor Hellebuyck – Goaltender: The Michigan native and three‑time Vezina Trophy winner remains one of the NHL’s elite goalies. He owns a 2.53 goals‑against average and .908 save percentage this season, but he has endured minimal run support during Winnipeg’s skid.

Team Comparisons – Stats from ESPN and Official Game Notes

Detroit’s depth scoring has been a differentiator. Veterans such as James van Riemsdyk (nine goals) and Mason Appleton have contributed beyond the top six. The Jets, by contrast, rely heavily on their top line; secondary scoring has been inconsistent, and coach Scott Arniel lamented that despite strong effort and adherence to the game plan, his team “is not getting points and that’s the most important thing” – reuters.com. Adam Lowry echoed that sentiment, noting that Winnipeg played well against Edmonton but needs to sustain a 60‑minute effort.

Player Profiles

Dylan Larkin

Larkin is a 6‑foot‑1, 205‑pound center from Waterford Township, Michigan. Selected 15th overall in 2014, he joined the Red Wings in 2015 and quickly became one of the NHL’s fastest skaters. Larkin’s two‑way game and leadership earned him the captaincy. He has 108 goals and 183 assists in 354 career games and was named an All‑Star in 2023. Against Winnipeg, Larkin has 12 career points. Off the ice, he is known for his community involvement and local roots.

Lucas Raymond

Born in Göteborg, Sweden, Raymond stands 5‑foot‑11 and weighs 188 pounds. Detroit drafted him fourth overall in 2020 and he debuted in 2021‑22. Scouts praise his “terrific hands and a tremendous hockey sense”. Raymond has 37 points this season and nine points in eight games versus Winnipeg. His ability to read the play and make quick decisions makes him a centerpiece of Detroit’s rebuild.

Moritz Seider

Seider, a 6‑foot‑3, 207‑pound defenseman from Zell, Germany, was drafted sixth overall in 2019. After winning SHL defenseman of the year honours with Rögle BK during the pandemic, he debuted for Detroit in 2021‑22 and captured the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. Seider plays in all situations, quarterbacking the power play and penalty kill. He has 12 assists in eight career games against Winnipeg and scored the tying goal in Detroit’s last game.

Patrick Kane

The Buffalo native is one of the NHL’s most decorated forwards. Kane stands 5‑foot‑10 and weighs 177 pounds, was drafted first overall in 2007, and won three Stanley Cups with Chicago. He has 1,366 career points (498 goals, 868 assists) and needs two goals to reach 500. After hip surgery last season, he signed a two‑year deal with Detroit and has 23 points in 25 games this year. Kane is eager to face his former teammate Jonathan Toews; he called it “fun” and said the internal competition they shared helped push each other.

Mark Scheifele

Scheifele, from Kitchener, Ontario, is a 6‑foot‑3, 207‑pound center drafted seventh overall in 2011. He has 18 goals and 27 assists this season and has been Winnipeg’s most consistent scorer. Scheifele thrives on playmaking and has 20 career points against Detroit. He centers the top line and first power‑play unit, making him the primary threat the Red Wings must neutralise.

Kyle Connor

Connor is a 6‑foot‑1, 177‑pound left wing from Shelby Township, Michigan. Drafted 17th overall in 2015, he recorded 71 points at the University of Michigan in 2015‑16 and has become a perennial 30‑goal scorer. Connor has 16 points in 14 games against Detroit and provides Winnipeg with speed and scoring on the flank.

Connor Hellebuyck

Hellebuyck, from Commerce, Michigan, is a 6‑foot‑4, 207‑pound goaltender drafted 130th overall in 2012. He played at UMass Lowell and has since won the Vezina Trophy three times and the Hart Trophy once. This season he has a 2.53 goals‑against average and .908 save percentage. His ability to steal games is Winnipeg’s biggest advantage.

Jonathan Toews

Toews, a 37‑year‑old center from Winnipeg, returned to the NHL this season after a two‑year hiatus due to chronic inflammatory response syndrome and long COVID. He has 10 points in 37 games this season. Toews acknowledged that facing his long‑time friend Patrick Kane as an opponent will be “strange” but emphasised that both players remain competitive. McLellan called both players future Hall of Famers and emphasised that they have always put the team first.

Interviews and Quotes

The Red Wings enter the game brimming with confidence. After Sunday’s overtime win, rookie defenseman Simon Edvinsson noted how important it was to defeat a division rival, saying, “To come back two times, three times, it’s huge for the group. We’ve got to take these wins and build off of them and keep going”. Forward Mason Appleton highlighted the team’s resilience: “We’ve bounced back after tough performances… it just goes to show the belief we have in this room”. Coach Todd McLellan emphasised the importance of winning season series against divisional opponents, remarking that Detroit focuses on capturing points inside the division and that clinching the series against Toronto was “real important”.

In the Jets’ camp, coach Scott Arniel defended his players amid the losing streak, saying he “can’t criticize the effort” because the team executed the game plan but “we’re not getting points and that’s the most important thing”reuters.com. Captain Adam Lowry echoed that they played well despite defeats, noting that if the Jets maintain a consistent 60‑minute effort, positive results will come. Meanwhile, James van Riemsdyk told reporters he felt “much better” in practice and highlighted the importance of a consistent approach to move past poor performances.

On the reunion front, Patrick Kane called facing Jonathan Toews as opponents for the first time in the NHL “fun,” recalling their shared memories in Chicago and how their internal competition pushed one another. Toews admitted it would be “strange” to play against Kane but emphasised that both players remain competitive. Coach McLellan said he feels privileged to coach one of them and expects both future Hall of Famers to focus solely on winning the game.

Key Statistics

• Recent Streaks: Detroit is 7‑3‑0 in its last 10 games, averaging three goals and 4.6 assists per contest while allowing 2.5 goals. Winnipeg is 1‑6‑3, averaging 2.4 goals and 3.9 assists but allowing 3.3 goals.
• Scoring Leaders: Mark Scheifele leads Winnipeg with 45 points, while Lucas Raymond paces Detroit with 37 points. Alex DeBrincat’s 20 goals and Scheifele’s 18 goals top their respective clubs.
• Special Teams: Detroit’s power play converts at 25.0% and has produced 30 goals, ranking among the league’s best. Winnipeg’s power play operates at 19.8%. Both penalty kills sit at 80%.
• Home/Road Splits: The Red Wings are 13‑7‑1 at Little Caesars Arena, while the Jets are 7‑10‑2 away from Canada Life Centre.
• New Year’s Eve History: Detroit holds a 39‑25‑8‑2 all‑time record on New Year’s Eve and is 4‑2‑1 in the holiday game since moving to Little Caesars Arena.

Outlook

The Red Wings have an opportunity to finish the calendar year with sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division. To achieve that, they must continue to receive balanced scoring and take advantage of Winnipeg’s sputtering special teams. Keeping the Jets’ top line in check — particularly Scheifele and Connor — will be vital, while Patrick Kane and Dylan Larkin need to generate offense against a stingy Connor Hellebuyck. Winnipeg, desperate to snap its skid, will lean on goaltending and look for a boost from Jonathan Toews’ reunion with Kane. With storylines ranging from holiday tradition to Hall‑of‑Fame reunions, Detroit’s New Year’s Eve clash against Winnipeg promises drama and perhaps one final chapter of 2025 heroics at Little Caesars Arena.