2020–21 Detroit Red Wings season

The 2020–21 Detroit Red Wings season was the 95th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. It was the Red Wings' fourth season at Little Caesars Arena. 
On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border. As a result of this realignment the Red Wings returned to the Central Division for the first time since 2012–13 and only played games against the other teams in their new division during the regular season.
On April 26, the Red Wings were eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive season.
==Standings==
===Divisional standings===
==Schedule and results==
===Regular season===
2020–21 game log 19–27–10 (Home: 12–11–5; Road: 7–16–5)	2020–21 game log 19–27–10 (Home: 12–11–5; Road: 7–16–5)	2020–21 game log 19–27–10 (Home: 12–11–5; Road: 7–16–5)	2020–21 game log 19–27–10 (Home: 12–11–5; Road: 7–16–5)	2020–21 game log 19–27–10 (Home: 12–11–5; Road: 7–16–5)	2020–21 game log 19–27–10 (Home: 12–11–5; Road: 7–16–5)	2020–21 game log 19–27–10 (Home: 12–11–5; Road: 7–16–5)	2020–21 game log 19–27–10 (Home: 12–11–5; Road: 7–16–5)	2020–21 game log 19–27–10 (Home: 12–11–5; Road: 7–16–5)	2020–21 game log 19–27–10 (Home: 12–11–5; Road: 7–16–5)	2020–21 game log 19–27–10 (Home: 12–11–5; Road: 7–16–5)
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January: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–3–1) 	January: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–3–1) 	January: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–3–1) 	January: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–3–1) 	January: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–3–1) 	January: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–3–1) 	January: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–3–1) 	January: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–3–1) 	January: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–3–1) 	January: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–3–1) 	January: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–3–1)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Pts 	Recap
1 	January 14 	Carolina 	3–0 	Detroit 	 	Greiss 	0 	0–1–0 	0 	Recap
2 	January 16 	Carolina 	2–4 	Detroit 	 	Bernier 	0 	1–1–0 	2 	Recap
3 	January 18 	Columbus 	3–2 	Detroit 	 	Greiss 	0 	1–2–0 	2 	Recap
4 	January 19 	Columbus 	2–3 	Detroit 	OT 	Bernier 	0 	2–2–0 	4 	Recap
5 	January 22 	Detroit 	1–4 	Chicago 	 	Greiss 	0 	2–3–0 	4 	Recap
6 	January 24 	Detroit 	2–6 	Chicago 	 	Bernier 	0 	2–4–0 	4 	Recap
7 	January 26 	Detroit 	1–2 	Dallas 	OT 	Greiss 	4,109 	2–4–1 	5 	Recap
8 	January 28 	Detroit 	3–7 	Dallas 	 	Greiss 	4,214 	2–5–1 	5 	Recap
9 	January 30 	Florida 	3–2 	Detroit 	OT 	Greiss 	0 	2–5–2 	6 	Recap
10 	January 31 	Florida 	3–2 	Detroit 	 	Greiss 	0 	2–6–2 	6 	Recap
==Awards and honours==
===Awards===
 Regular season
Player	Award 	Awarded
 	NHL First Star of the Week	May 3, 2021
===Milestones===
 Regular season
Player	Milestone 	Reached
 	200th career NHL game 	January 14, 2021
 	900th career NHL game 	January 22, 2021
 	900th career NHL game 	January 28, 2021
 	700th career NHL game 	January 30, 2021
 	400th career NHL game 	February 3, 2021
 	300th career NHL game 	February 9, 2021
 	300th career NHL assist	March 11, 2021
 	300th career NHL game 	March 18, 2021
 	300th career NHL game 	April 8, 2021
 	100th career NHL assist	April 15, 2021
==Transactions==
The Red Wings have been involved in the following transactions during the 2020–21 season.
===Trades===
Date	Details 	Details 	Ref
 	To New York IslandersDmytro Timashov 	To Detroit Red WingsFuture considerations 	
 	To Colorado AvalanchePatrik Nemeth 	To Detroit Red Wings4th-round pick in 2022 	
 	To Columbus Blue JacketsBrian Lashoff	To Detroit Red WingsDavid Savard 	
 	To Tampa Bay LightningDavid Savard 	To Detroit Red Wings4th-round pick in 2021 	
 	To Montreal CanadiensJon Merrill 	To Detroit Red WingsHayden Verbeek5th-round pick in 2021 	
 	To Washington CapitalsAnthony Mantha	To Detroit Red WingsRichard PánikJakub Vrána1st-round pick in 20212nd-round pick in 2022	
===Free agents===
Date	Player 	Team 	Contract term	Ref
 	Bobby Ryan 	from Ottawa Senators 	1-year 	
 	Jon Merrill 	from Vegas Golden Knights	1-year 	
 	Riley Barber 	from Pittsburgh Penguins 	2-year 	
 	Kevin Boyle 	from Anaheim Ducks 	1-year 	
 	Kyle Criscuolo 	from Anaheim Ducks 	1-year 	
 	Thomas Greiss 	from New York Islanders 	2-year 	
 	Troy Stecher 	from Vancouver Canucks 	2-year 	
 	Vladislav Namestnikov	from Colorado Avalanche 	2-year 	
===Contract terminations===
Date	Player 	Via 	Ref
 	Justin Abdelkader	Unconditional waivers	
===Retirement===
Date	Player 	Ref
 	Trevor Daley	
===Signings===
Date	Player 	Contract term	Ref
 	Tyler Bertuzzi	1-year 	
 	Anthony Mantha	4-year 	
==Draft picks==
Below are the Detroit Red Wings' selections at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on October 6 and 7, 2020, via video conference call due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Round	# 	Player 	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	4 	Lucas Raymond 	LW 	 	Frölunda HC (SHL)
2 	32 	William Wallinder 	D 	 	Modo J20 (J20 SuperElit)
2 	51 	Theodor Niederbach	C 	 	Frölunda J20 (J20 SuperElit)
2 	55 	Cross Hanas 	LW 	 	Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
3 	63 	Donovan Sebrango 	D 	 	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
3 	70 	Eemil Viro 	D 	 	TPS (Liiga)
4 	97 	Sam Strange 	RW 	 	Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
4 	1071	Jan Bednar 	G 	 	HC Baník Sokolov (Czech 2.liga)
5 	132 	Alex Cotton 	D 	 	Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
6 	156 	Kyle Aucoin 	D 	 	Tri-City Storm (USHL)
7 	187 	Kienan Draper 	RW 	 	Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
7 	203 	Chase Bradley 	LW 	 	Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Notes:
# The Edmonton Oilers' fourth-round pick will go to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on February 23, 2020 that sent Mike Green to Edmonton in exchange for Kyle Brodziak and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).
==References==
Detroit Red Wings
Category:Detroit Red Wings seasons