2015–16 Detroit Red Wings season
The 2015–16 Detroit Red Wings season was the 90th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. The regular season began on October 9, 2015 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and former Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock, with a 4–0 victory. This season also involved the Red Wings extending their playoff streak to 25 straight seasons.
Off-season
On June 9, 2015, Jeff Blashill was named the head coach of the Red Wings, following the departure of Mike Babcock to the Toronto Maple Leafs.On June 23, 2015, the Red Wings finalized their coaching staff, Tony Granato will return as an assistant coach, along with Pat Ferschweiler, who was an assistant coach under Blashill with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Dave Noel-Bernier was named video coach, and Chris Chelios will evaluate in-game player performance, and will continue to play a role in player development, by working on-ice with the team's defensemen during practices. Jim Bedard will return for his 19th season with the organization as goaltending coach.
Standings
Schedule and results
Pre-season
Regular season
Playoffs
Player statistics
Skaters
| Player | ||||||
| 82 | 13 | 37 | 50 | −15 | 24 | |
| 66 | 16 | 33 | 49 | 7 | 14 | |
| 80 | 23 | 22 | 45 | 11 | 34 | |
| 81 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 4 | 24 | |
| 82 | 17 | 26 | 43 | −2 | 34 | |
| 82 | 19 | 23 | 42 | −16 | 120 | |
| 74 | 7 | 28 | 35 | −6 | 38 | |
| 68 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 4 | 8 | |
| 77 | 13 | 13 | 26 | −2 | 32 | |
| 64 | 3 | 23 | 26 | −21 | 30 | |
| 81 | 14 | 11 | 25 | −8 | 12 | |
| 81 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 4 | 46 | |
| 78 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 2 | 44 | |
| 71 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 2 | 56 | |
| 63 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 1 | 62 | |
| 37 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 1 | 5 | |
| 36 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 14 | |
| 47 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 36 | |
| 66 | 2 | 9 | 11 | −5 | 10 | |
| 44 | 4 | 2 | 6 | −6 | 16 | |
| ‡ | 25 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 14 |
| 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −6 | 2 | |
| 29 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | |
| 28 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −5 | 2 | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 | |
| ‡ | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 7 |
| Player | ||||||
| 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 10 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 18 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 35 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 6 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −4 | 7 | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 0 | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 4 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 4 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 10 |
Goaltenders
;Goaltenders| Player | |||||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | 177 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1.36 | 73 | .945 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 2 | 117 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3.59 | 64 | .891 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Red Wings. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only.
‡Traded mid-season
Bold/italics denotes franchise record
Final roster
Updated April 20, 2016.Suspensions/fines
Awards and honours
Awards
| Player | Award | Awarded |
| NHL First Star of the Week | October 12, 2015 | |
| NHL Rookie of the Month | December 1, 2015 | |
| NHL All-Star game selection | January 6, 2016 | |
| NHL Second Star of the Week | January 11, 2016 | |
| NHL First Star of the Week | February 15, 2016 |
Milestones
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| 1st Career NHL Game 1st Career NHL Assist 1st Career NHL Goal 1st Career NHL Point | October 9, 2015 | |
| 1st Career NHL Win | October 9, 2015 | |
| 400th Career NHL Game | October 10, 2015 | |
| 100th Career NHL Game | October 13, 2015 | |
| 200th Career NHL Game | October 23, 2015 | |
| 1st Career NHL Assist 1st Career NHL Point | October 24, 2015 | |
| 500th Career NHL Assist 800th Career NHL Point | October 31, 2015 | |
| 500th Career NHL Game | November 3, 2015 | |
| Henrik Zetterberg | 300th Career NHL Goal | November 6, 2015 |
| 1st Career NHL Game | November 8, 2015 | |
| Andreas Athanasiou | 1st Career NHL Goal 1st Career NHL Point | November 10, 2015 |
| 200th Career NHL Game | November 16, 2015 | |
| 200th Career NHL Game | November 21, 2015 | |
| 300th Career NHL Goal | November 25, 2015 | |
| Drew Miller | 100th Career NHL Point with Detroit | December 1, 2015 |
| 700th Career NHL Game | December 3, 2015 | |
| Pavel Datsyuk | 900th Career NHL Game | December 8, 2015 |
| 600th Career NHL Game | December 14, 2015 | |
| 1st Career NHL Game | December 26, 2015 | |
| 200th Career NHL Game | January 20, 2016 | |
| 200th Career NHL Game | January 23, 2016 | |
| Andreas Athanasiou | 1st Career NHL Assist | February 6, 2016 |
| 1,100th Career NHL Game | February 14, 2016 | |
| Pavel Datsyuk | 900th Career NHL Point | February 14, 2016 |
| Henrik Zetterberg | 900th Career NHL Game | March 2, 2016 |
| 1st Career NHL Game | March 15, 2016 | |
| Anthony Mantha | 1st Career NHL Assist 1st Career NHL Point | March 22, 2016 |
| Anthony Mantha | 1st Career NHL Goal | March 24, 2016 |
| Pavel Datsyuk | 600th Career NHL Assist | March 26, 2016 |
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| Dylan Larkin | 1st Career NHL Playoff Game | April 13, 2016 |
| Andreas Athanasiou | 1st Career NHL Playoff Game | April 13, 2016 |
| Dylan Larkin | 1st Career NHL Playoff Goal 1st Career NHL Playoff Point | April 15, 2016 |
| Andreas Athanasiou | 1st Career NHL Playoff Goal 1st Career NHL Playoff Point | April 17, 2016 |
Transactions
The Red Wings have been involved in the following transactions during the 2015–16 season:Trades
;Notes- Detroit to retain 15% of salary as part of trade.
Free agents acquired
Free agents lost
Lost via waivers
Player signings
Draft picks
The Detroit Red Wings' picks at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 26–27, 2015 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.| Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| 1 | 19 | Evgeny Svechnikov | LW | Russia | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles |
| 3 | 73 | Vili Saarijärvi | D | Finland | Green Bay Gamblers |
| 4 | 110 | Joren Van Pottelberghe | G | Switzerland | Linköpings HC |
| 5 | 140 | Chase Pearson | C | Canada | Youngstown Phantoms |
| 6 | 170 | Patrick Holway | D | USA | Boston Advantage U18 |
| 7 | 200 | Adam Marsh | LW | USA | Saint John Sea Dogs |
;Draft notes
- The Detroit Red Wings' second-round pick went to the Dallas Stars as the result of a trade on March 1, 2015 that sent Erik Cole and a conditional third-round pick in 2015 to Detroit in exchange for Mattias Janmark, Mattias Backman and this pick.
- The Dallas Stars' third-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on March 1, 2015 that sent Mattias Janmark, Mattias Backman, and a second-round pick in 2015 to Dallas in exchange for Erik Cole and this pick. The condition – Detroit will receive a third-round pick in 2015 if they do not qualify for the 2015 Eastern Conference Final and Cole does not play in 50% of Detroit's playoff games – was converted on April 8, 2015 when Cole was injured for the remainder of the season.
- The Detroit Red Wings' third-round pick went to the Anaheim Ducks as the result of a trade on March 2, 2015 that sent Rene Bourque, William Karlsson and a second-round pick in 2015 to Columbus in exchange for James Wisniewski and this pick.
- :Columbus previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014 that sent Edmonton's third-round pick in 2014 to Detroit in exchange for a third-round pick in 2014 and this pick.