Just over halfway point of the NHL regular season, the Detroit Red Wings have been part disappointing and part invigorating. But are they true playoff contenders?
New coach Todd McLellan, led the Original Six franchise on a seven-game winning streak after taking over from fired coach Derek Lalonde following an uninspiring 13-17-2 start, lowlighted by an offense that failed to score more than one goal in 11 outings.
Tuesday’s 6-3 error-filled loss to the visiting San Jose Sharks came following a mistake-prone third period during Sunday’s 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken.
“All we’ve done is crawl back into the race. We’ve got a lot more work to do.”
– Red Wings Coach Todd McLellan
It’s periods like this against San Jose where Detroit comes out flat that I’m grateful McLellan is in charge. He’s no BS. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/X2lFeAYZ1P
— Marc Ryan (@MarcRyanOnAir) January 15, 2025
New Coach Todd McLellan Speaks Up, Looks For Spark
Unacceptable, McLellan lamented. The Red Wings did not respond to the coaching.
“So to me that tells me they weren’t sharp,” McLellan said, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. “They weren’t alert, they weren’t prepared to adjust.”
One minute and one second after Lucas Raymond scored to cut the Sharks’ lead to 4-3, defenseman Justin Holl carelessly turned the puck over in front of goalie Ville Husso, allowing Tyler Toffoli to score easily. Holl was benched for much of the third period.
“Sending (a) message?” he said. “He sent himself a message and I think that’s pretty obvious. You can march him in here. And I’m not going to sit up here and be asked when he had a terrible night. And that’s just the way it is.
“So, whether he got on in the last five minutes or not, it really doesn’t matter. He knows he can play better. And, you know, I’m telling you before I’m going to tell him, but I am going to tell him that tomorrow, and that’s up to him to fix. I know he’s a better player than that.”
How will Holl and the Red Wings respond to McLellan’s first public rant for accountability?
Opening a four-game road trip at the Florida Panthers (26-16-3) on Thursday, FanDuel Sportsbook listed the Red Wings (20-19-4) as a 1.5-goal underdog. McLellan will soon discover if the Red Wings, who have not qualified for the playoffs since 2016, need additional hard coaching.
Coming off a 7-1 stretch, this road trip will be a huge test for the Detroit Red Wings. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/dylKMclKyo
— Winged Wheel Podcast (@WingedWheelPod) January 15, 2025
