As Red Wings' playoff drought reaches a decade, this season's miss hits hardest

DETROIT — As the 2025-26 Detroit Red Wings skated off the Little Caesars Arena ice for the final time, the last sound they heard was boos.There had been some cheers moments earlier, as the players gathered and center ice and saluted the crowd (as well as retiring radio analyst Paul Woods). But on a night when the Red Wings officially took over the title of the longest active playoff drought in the NHL, after being mathematically eliminated with a blown lead and a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, it was 10 years of frustration and disappointment that carried the moment.Advertisement