from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

How dire is it? The 2019-20 season could go down as the worst in franchise history.

The Wings have a .261 winning percentage — the third-worst ever. The 1985-86 Red Wings went 17-57-6 (in an 80-game season, compared to 82 now) for a .250 percentage, and the 1976-77 team went 16-55-9 (also an 80-game schedule) for .256.

However, the worst season for any NHL franchise is safely out of reach, set by the 1974-75 expansion Washington Capitals, who went 8-67-5 for a .131 winning percentage.

This Red Wings team has 15 games left to avoid the label of “worst ever” in Detroit, but they also face the NHL’s toughest schedule for remaining games, according to tankathon.com. The Wings face Steve Yzerman’s former team, Tampa Bay (41-19-5), three more times before the close of the season.

Of the 15 games left, only one (Chicago) is against a team out of the playoff picture.

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