DETROIT >> What a rocky, uneven and surprising season the Red Wings just endured.

They missed the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season, so that part didn’t change much.

But a coaching change, long winning streaks followed by losing streaks that brought the Wings down to earth, and breakout performances from young players who look to be part of the future did give the team hope.

With 86 points and a 39-35-8 record, the Wings finished five points below the year before. They were eliminated from playoff contention almost a week before the regular-season schedule ended, as another strong finish was wasted.

The frustration of missing the playoffs was clear at season’s end.

“You grow up playing hockey and you play to win stuff,” forward Lucas Raymond said. “Whether that’s a pewee tournament or whatever it is, you’re always used to playing those games. Not being able to do that is frustrating; it’s not fun at all. I speak for everyone when I say that.”

A 13-17-4 start to the season moved general manager Steve Yzerman to replace Derek Lalonde with Todd McLellan as head coach. McLellan’s approach produced immediate results, as the Wings had two seven-game win streaks that eventually vaulted the Wings into an Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

But another March swoon — the Wings went 4-10-0 during March — dropped Detroit out of the playoff picture.

McLellan’s presence and determination, though, have the Wings optimistic about next season.

“Todd is a really good coach, I’ve been very impressed with him,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “A training camp with our group, our young guys and our core with him would be very valuable. Todd is going to really help turn this thing around.”

The offseason will be interesting, as Yzerman likely needs to find an impact scorer and a top-four quality defenseman through either free agency or the trade market. Some more youngsters are also close to reaching the NHL, so finding spots for them is also necessary.

With the end of the season, here is one reporter’s assessment on each player based on performance and expectations.

Goaltenders

• Alex Lyon — 14-9-1, 2.81 goals-against average, .896 save percentage. Contract: Unrestricted free agent. Analysis: There were stretches over Lyon’s two seasons with the Wings where he looked like a bona fide NHL starting goalie. But both seasons, Lyon seemed to fade down the stretch. It’s likely he’ll be in net somewhere else next season. Grade: C-plus

• Petr Mrazek — 2-2-0, 2.49 GAA, .902 SVS. Contract: One year remaining, $4.25 million annual average value. Analysis: He didn’t make much of an impact after being acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline, getting injured in his fifth appearance. With a year left on his contract, the expectation is Mrazek will tandem with Cam Talbot in net next season. Grade: Incomplete

• Cam Talbot — 21-19-5, 2.93 GAA, .900 SVS. Contract: One year remaining, $2.5 million AAV. Analysis: At age 37, Talbot likely surpassed many people’s expectations this season. He’s a good veteran presence in the locker room and he has shown he can be effective if you manage his usage. Grade: B-minus

Defensemen

• Ben Chiarot — 81 games, four goals, nine assists, 13 points. Contract: One year remaining, $4.75 million AAV. Analysis: This was more of the Ben Chiarot the Wings were expecting when they signed him in free agency two seasons ago. He can play with an edge, he complements Moritz Seider well when they are paired, and he supplies a veteran presence. Grade: B-minus

• Simon Edvinsson — 78 games, seven goals, 24 assists, 31 points. Contract: One year remaining, $894,167 AAV. Analysis: Edvinsson has an exciting future ahead of him. There were a lot of expectations after an impressive late-season run last year and for the most part he lived up to them. Edvinsson’s size, plus the skating, is quite a combination to possess. Grade: B-plus

• Erik Gustafsson — 60 games, two goals, 16 assists, 18 points. Contract: One year remaining, $2 million AAV. Analysis: Gustafsson didn’t seem to fit in well under Lalonde’s system, but he was thriving playing for McLellan until a late-season injury cut his season short. McLellan felt the Wings missed Gustafsson’s mobility and work on the power play. Grade: C

• Justin Holl — 73 games, two goals, six assists, eight points. Contract: One year remaining, $2.25 million AAV. Analysis: Holl found new life this season after being an afterthought pretty much all of last season. He provided stability as part of a third defensive pairing most of the season. It was nothing flashy, just a daily workmanlike effort. Grade: C

• Albert Johansson — 61 games, three goals, six assists, nine points. Contract: Restricted free agent. Analysis: Another player who found a rebirth under McLellan. Johansson was used sparingly by Lalonde, but he found a spot in the lineup early in McLellan’s time and quickly established himself. He’s mobile, poised, has a sneaky good shot, and he overcomes his lack of size with good positioning and instincts. Grade: B

• Jeff Petry — 44 games, one goal, seven assists, eight points. Contract: Unrestricted free agent. Analysis: Petry missed most of the second half with an abdominal injury. The Wings likely could have used his veteran savvy at times. Petry is close to 1,000 games in his career. He’ll likely be able to reach that milestone somewhere, but it’s unlikely it’ll be with the Wings. Grade: C

• Moritz Seider — 82 games, eight goals, 38 assists, 46 points. Contract: Six years left, $8.55 million AAV. Analysis: Seider has yet to miss a game in his four NHL seasons and there haven’t been a ton of poor performances during that stretch.

He’s simply a solid competitor who thrives on the big minutes, takes on the challenge of playing against the other team’s best and has a desire to improve. Grade: A-minus

Forwards

• Jonatan Berggren — 75 games, 12 goals, 12 assists, 24 points. Contract: Restricted free agent. Analysis: Berggren was another young player who appeared to find new life with McLellan around but faded until a final-week spark.

He might have a hazy future with the Wings.

Consistency has been an issue, and he might be crowded out of the lineup. Grade: C

• J.T. Compher — 76 games, 11 goals, 21 assists, 32 points. Contract: Three years left, $5.1 million AAV. Analysis: Compher certainly didn’t have the offensive season the Wings desperately needed. He seemed to be finding his game when McLellan came aboard, but an injury and the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament break stalled that. Compher’s versatility remains a plus. Fans on social media want him bought out but don’t hold your breath. Grade: C-minus

• Andrew Copp — 56 games, 10 goals, 13 assists, 23 points. Contract: Two years remaining, $5.625 million AAV. Analysis: Copp was arguably playing his best hockey since joining the Wings after McLellan took over, but then he injured his shoulder in a freak mishap on the ice and would need season-ending surgery. The Wings missed his versatility, size and growing confidence offensively. Grade: B-minus

• Alex DeBrincat — 82 games, 39 goals, 31 assists, 70 points. Contract: Two years left, $7.875 million AAV. Analysis: He just missed scoring 40 goals for a third time in his career. DeBrincat was a consistent scoring threat the entire season, smoothing out the peaks and valleys from a year ago. He played with more of an apparent edge, worked hard defensively, and his chemistry with Patrick Kane remains astounding. Grade: A-minus

• Patrick Kane — 72 games, 21 goals, 38 assists, 59 points. Contract: Unrestricted free agent. Analysis: After a slow start, Kane showed he has plenty of hockey left after McLellan replaced Lalonde.

A sublime presence on the power play, Kane’s ability to slow the game down and find the perfect play can be jaw-dropping.

It’ll be shocking if Kane and the Wings can’t work out another one-year deal. Grade: B

• Marco Kasper — 77 games, 19 goals, 18 assists, 37 points. Contract: Two years remaining, $886,666 AAV. Analysis: Based on expectations, Kasper surpassed what the Wings could have envisioned.

He’s another young player who found new life with McLellan, and Kasper thrived playing on the top line, then centering his own line. He never stops working on the ice and has shown signs of being part of the leadership structure in the future. Grade: A

• Dylan Larkin — 82 games, 30 goals, 40 assists, 70 points. Contract: Six years remaining, $8.7 million AAV. Analysis: Larkin reached 30 goals and 70 points, but playing over injuries the second half of the season limited his effectiveness at times. Larkin starred at the 4 Nations tournament for Team USA, and there was hope he would carry that over into the regular schedule, but the injuries slowed him. Grade: B-plus

• Tyler Motte — 55 games, four goals, five assists, nine points. Contract: Unrestricted free agent. Analysis: Respected veteran who never lacks energy and will never hurt a team. Motte had some difficulty staying in the lineup, and there might be young players who are close to filling his spot in the lineup. Grade: C

• Michael Rasmussen — 77 games, 11 goals, 10 assists, 21 points. Contract: Three years remaining, $3.2 million AAV. Analysis: A few more goals would have been nice to see, but offense isn’t what the Wings want foremost from Rasmussen.

He simply provides a workmanlike, physical game every night and can play up and down the lineup. Grade: C-plus

• Lucas Raymond — 82 games, 27 goals, 53 assists, 80 points. Contract: Seven years remaining, $8.075 million AAV. Analysis: You’d have to flip a coin between Raymond and DeBrincat as for the Wings’ most consistent player this season.

Raymond’s production slowed right after starring for Sweden at the 4 Nations tournament, but he appeared to catch his breath and was effective down the stretch.

Raymond is establishing himself as one of the NHL’s best young offensive threats. Grade: A-minus

• Craig Smith — 19 games, no goals, two assists, two points. Contract: Unrestricted free agent. Analysis: Smith came over from Chicago with Mrazek at the trade deadline, but he wasn’t able to provide any sort of offensive spark in his bottom-six forward role. He’s a classy veteran who is 13 games shy of 1,000 in his career. Hopefully he’ll get a chance to achieve the milestone somewhere next season. Grade: D

• Elmer Soderblom — 26 games, four goals, seven assists, 11 points. Contract: Restricted free agent. Analysis: No one was expecting such an eye-popping return from Soderblom after being recalled from Grand Rapids the second half of the season. Soderblom blends his 6-foot-8 presence with offensive skills that someone his size doesn’t usually possess. He’s an intriguing prospect going forward. Grade: B

• Vladimir Tarasenko — 80 games, 11 goals, 22 assists, 33 points. Contract: One year remaining, $4.75 million AAV. Analysis: Tarasenko tried — you can’t accuse him of not trying — but it simply didn’t work out offensively for him this season. The Wings needed some of the offense they lost in free agency last summer to be picked up by Tarasenko, and he didn’t provide enough of it. Maybe age (33) has caught up with him? He’s a possible buyout candidate, depending on how the summer unfolds for the Wings. Grade: D

• Austin Watson — 13 games, three goals, no assists, three points. Contract: One year remaining, $775,000 (two-way contract with Grand Rapids). Analysis: Watson showed enough where he could be a possible help in next year’s lineup, at least in potential call-ups, for sure. He’s still one of the NHL’s best heavyweights, and Watson still has sneaky effective offensive hands. His professionalism can help any locker room. Grade: C-plus

Coaching staff

• Todd McLellan/assistant coaches: There was an immediate different vibe after McLellan arrived, and it came through with the win streaks and an air of confidence around the team. To McLellan’s credit, so many players improved, or in the case of several young players, thrived given the chance to play. McLellan and assistant coach Trent Yawney were never able to completely fix the penalty kill, but the power play continued to be elite. Everyone around the organization is excited to see what a full training camp under McLellan will produce for next season. Grade: B

Front office

• General manager Steve Yzerman: Yzerman appeared to find the right head coach in McLellan, but could Yzerman have made the switch a couple weeks earlier and saved the season?

Certainly Yzerman gave Lalonde every chance to fix things. Yzerman’s free agent signings, so productive a summer ago, weren’t all as helpful this past offseason. With a nine-year playoff drought, fans are getting antsy.

It’ll be another important and challenging summer attempting to find more offense and depth in the lineup. Grade: C-plus