Detroit Red Wings' Projected Playoff Opponent Revealed

Despite having enjoyed a 25-year postseason streak, the Detroit Red Wings have failed to qualify for the playoffs since 2016.

If you can believe it, it's actually the longest drought in team history - which included the lowly years of the 1970s and 1980s.

However, the Red Wings are currently occupying a Wild Card postseason spot in the Eastern Conference and would be in the dance this year if the playoffs began today.

Their opponent, if the postseason began now, would be none other than the division foe and Original 6 rival Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Red Wings last played the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in that fateful Round 1 matchup in 1993 that ended with a heartbreaking Game 7 loss at Joe Louis Arena.

Nikolai Borschevsky deflected future Red Wings defenseman Bob Rouse's pass past goaltender Tim Chevelde for the fateful series winner:

It also goes without saying that the Maple Leafs have also won a single postseason series since 2004; they've been Round 1 fodder for teams like the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning the last several years.

Their lone postseason series win since 2004 was over the Lightning in 2023, though they were then promptly dispatched by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers in the second round.

Red Wings fans, how would you feel about a Round 1 matchup against the divisional foe Maple Leafs?