Watson is no stranger to the NHL, with 121 points (63G / 58A) in 528 career games, but his physical presence has primarily been felt in the AHL the past two seasons. The 33-year-old Watson scored 42 points (19G / 23A) and recorded 112 penalty minutes in 60 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) last season.
The Red Wings are coming off an exciting 4-3 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings last night, improving to 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. The Red Wings will turn to Gibson on Friday to face off against the Anaheim Ducks, the team he spent the previous 12 seasons with. The 32-year-old Gibson has had an up-and-down first season with Detroit, posting a 3.20 GAA and .876 SV% in six games (4-2-0). Detroit enters Friday's contest as +107 road underdogs against a 5-3-1 Anaheim team.
The elite goaltending the Red Wings received earlier in the season has dissipated slightly, but they continue their winning ways, looking to extend their winning streak to three on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 38-year-old Talbot will return to the crease for the Red Wings on Thursday, looking to improve after a forgetful performance in his most recent outing, allowing seven goals on 30 shots (.767 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the New York Islanders. He has a 2.98 GAA and .890 SV% in five appearances this season (3-1-0).
The writing was on the wall for Brandsegg-Nygard's demotion to Grand Rapids (AHL) after he played only 6:37 TOI in Detroit's game on Saturday. The 20-year-old heads to the minors after picking up an assist, two PIMs, 14 SOG and a -5 plus/minus across nine games played.
Gibson allowed four goals in the first 24 minutes of the Red Wings' most recent game, falling behind 4-0 to the St. Louis Blues, but shut the door the rest of the way, en route to a 25-save performance (.862 SV%) in a 6-4 win. The Red Wings will roll with Gibson in a rematch against the Blues on Tuesday. The 32-year-old Gibson has had an up-and-down start to his Red Wings' career, posting a 3.46 GAA and .870 SV% in five games (3-2-0).
Danielson has yet to play in the 2025-26 season, recovering from an injury, and will make his debut at the AHL level with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 21-year-old forward was drafted ninth-overall by the Red Wings in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He had 39 points (12G / 27A) in 71 games with Grand Rapids last season.
The Red Wings' five-game winning streak snapped last night in a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in the front end of a back-to-back. They will switch to Talbot between the pipes on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 38-year-old Talbot has been sensational early in the 2025-26 season, posting a 1.78 GAA and .932 SV% in four appearances (3-0-0). The Red Wings enter Thursday's contest as +115 road underdogs against an Islanders team riding a three-game winning streak.
