On December 27, 2024, the Detroit Red Wings announced Todd McLellan as their new coach after Derek Lalonde was relieved of his duties. Many wanted change but with this change came expectations. With Trent Yawney also coming over as an assistant coach, there was a different vibe. Hope and optimism ran across the organization. With the move, the Red Wings have become one of the hottest teams in the league and one that fans want to watch.
Red Wings, McLellan find spark
Detroit is a different team now and it shows on the ice. More energy, aggressiveness on the puck, the special teams have improved, and they are shooting more. There is a special feeling in Detroit and the Red Wings now find themselves back above .500 with their current win streak. The team's statistics are night and day and they have respectable stats across the board.
Under Lalonde, the power play was operating at a 22.5 precent clip (McLellan 47.8 percent), goals per game was 2.56 (McLellan 3.86), goals-against average was 3.26 (McLellan 2.86), and the penalty kill was 68.8 percent (McLellan 73.3 percent). The shot differential is also improved as they were getting outshot by more than five per game but are now on the plus side.
The Red Wings are 8-2 with McLellan and Yawney behind the bench. This is their longest winning streak since January 2012. Though the roster could still use some tinkering, McLellan is getting the best out of his entire roster. He is holding every player accountable and does not want to hear excuses. He is the complete opposite of Lalonde. Lalonde got the success he did out of a team that, to some, had given up and the concern was that he lost the room. With McLellan, there is no worry about that as he will let the players know when he is unhappy.
There is no indication on how long this success will last. However, this goes to show one team may not have the most talented roster but can still find success. It was a matter of time before a change was made and the move has paid off. The entire roster looks motivated and refreshed on the ice and their play is night and day from before. The players are having fun again and want to make a serious push at a playoff spot, one that may not be that far out of reach now. This Red Wings team has a different look and wants to keep this streak going. We have not seen this team play this well in a while and they were due.