DETROIT >> The Red Wings took significant steps toward almost being a playoff team this season.

They came close, getting to the final night of the season and missing qualifying by a tiebreaker. They were an improved offensive team, young players such as Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond continued to thrive, and veterans supplied leadership and production.

But the Wings still had trouble keeping the puck out of the net. And that’s not a knock on the goaltending, specifically. It was a team issue.

And defense is an area that general manager Steve Yzerman and coach Derek Lalonde, at their season-ending press conferences Friday at Little Caesars Arena, both made front and center that needs to get better.

“We need to be better in all aspects of keeping the puck out of our net,” Yzerman said. “Not only with our goalies, but our play defensively, collectively, not just our D (defensive) core, but forwards as well.”

The Wings ranked 24th (out of 32 teams) allowing 273 goals and 24th allowing 3.33 goals per game. Those simply have to get better if the Wings are going to get over that playoff line.

“It’s not just the goaltending, and defense, or it’s the forwards, its’ collectively our entire team, we have to improve in that area,” Yzerman said. “It’s incumbent upon our coaching staff to instill or improve, continue to work on whether it’s a different system or getting better in the way we play, and improving our players in the system.

“Goals against is a challenge around the league. It’s more of an offensive league. It’s difficult to defend right now. But you see the best teams in the league probably are near the top in goals against and defensive play.

“We took steps this year and at times were good and we also had tough stretches and if you’re not scoring for whatever reason, you have to rely on keeping it out of your net.”

Lalonde also emphasized team defense as an area that needs to improve if the Wings want to make that next step.

“We scored a ton more goals this year, we went from 26th to 13th in goals for, and those goals helped us,” Lalonde said. “But when you want to keep pushing and hope to get over that (playoff) line, I still think it’s how you play team defense and keeping it out of your net.

“There were some positives (Grade A chances allowed were less than last year) but not good enough. I’m sitting here talking to you instead of preparing for the (New York) Rangers.”

But it was, largely, a positive season, what with 91 points (11 improved over a year ago), 41 victories, and the core of the team still relatively young and growing.

“A bit of a rollercoaster, a lot of highs and some periods of a lot of losses and lows, I guess,” Yzerman said. “Overall, it was progress. I’m disappointed as most people are about the end of the season because it was, particularly the last week, incredibly exciting.”

Expectations have changed for the Wings after this season, with making the playoffs — the Wings have now missed eight consecutive years — likely an expectation by fans. But Lalonde is ready for the challenge.

“That’s positive,” said Lalonde of the increased expectations. “Expectations change when we went 16-4-2 in February, and when we started the season 5-1-0, and we won six straight (during the season) and we don’t shy away from that. That’s reality. Expectations are going to change as we keep building this and that’s all part of it and if we don’t have the stomach for it we’re going to be in trouble.

“I have the stomach for it and our group has the stomach for it. Our goal for next year is simple, we want to build on what we did this year.”

Yzerman and Lalonde touched on various issues as the team broke for the summer:

— Yzerman is optimistic new contracts will eventually be worked out for Seider and Raymond, both restricted free agents. But there is likely going to be work that has to be done to fight an agreeable number for both sides.

“Term and dollar amount has to work for both sides,” Yzerman said. “That can be a challenge at times. We’ll figure something out with all these guys.”

— There’s a good chance forward Jonatan Berggren and defenseman Albert Johansson will be on the Wings’ roster in October as both are no longer waiver-exempt and can’t be sent to Grand Rapids without likely being lost on waivers.

— Veteran forward Patrick Kane, an unrestricted free agent, had a positive impact on the organization, said Yzerman, but with the salary cap, bringing back all of the Wings’ UFA’s will be difficult.

“Patrick was great, a wizard with the puck,” Yzerman said. “He brought a lot of swagger to our team.”

Kane, David Perron, Christian Fischer, Daniel Sprong, Shayne Gostisbehere and James Reimer are potential UFA’s on July 1. Yzerman has varying degrees of interest in each player, but much will depend on deals with Seider and Raymond and the fact the Wings are closer to being a cap-limit team.

— Yzerman felt captain Dylan Larkin had a particularly outstanding season while facing difficult issues on and off the ice.

“He’s evolving as a player and changing a little bit, in a lot of good ways,” Yzerman said. “He was very motivated in being in a playoff race down the stretch. It wasn’t another trade deadline where we sell off (players) and we’re looking toward next year. It was great for him.”

— The NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City leading into training camp has basically been dissolved. The Wings and Dallas will meet up before training camp and play two games with their prospects. There had been as many as eight NHL teams competing in the tournament.

— If the Wings have a younger roster next season, that’s fine with Lalonde.

“There’s something special about youth and special about rookies and what they bring to the group,” Lalonde said. “The passion and drive, the ups and downs, I loved when Simon (Edvinsson) came up. I anticipate us being a little younger but that’s exciting for me.”