Todd McLellan has taken the Detroit Red Wings and brought them back into a playoff spot since he took over as head coach. They currently sit in the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins.
On December 28th, when he took over, Detroit was tied for last in the East. Detroit seems to be playing a simpler style of game, which has given them the confidence to go on this run. They've denied the reoccurring "new coach bump", because their hot play has been prolonged, and they've been red-hot for about a month and a half now.
What players have benefited the most under Todd Mcllelan?
Since December 28th, Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin lead the team in goals with 11, while Lucas Raymond leads the team with 18 assists and 25 points during that span. McLellan's arrival has unlocked a new spark in Detroit's core players, which is exactly what a fan base wants to see.
Vladimir Tarasenko has also picked it up slightly under McLellan, with nine points in 19 games. He's someone we're going to talk about down below. Despite the slight increase in offensive production, Tarasenko has been extremely disappointing considering his 4.75 million cap hit.
What kinds of moves can Detroit possibly make at the trade deadline after their resurgence?
Elliotte Friedman reported last night that Detroit could be looking to move Tarasenko, which makes sense for the Red Wings, but doesn't seem to make sense for the team who would want to acquire him. If Detroit could move him, that would be a huge win for them.
Detroit could be looking for a centre if they feel their team is ready to invest in. With the success they've had since late December, why wouldn't they want to go all in. They could be buyers and sellers this year, if they could find a trade partner for Tarasenko, of course.
Two players come to mind that the Red Wings could trade for. Elias Pettersson in Vancouver or Brayden Schenn from St. Louis. Both players have been rumored to be on the block, although reports have been saying that Pettersson might not get traded, and it would take a "mammoth" return for the Blues to trade Schenn.
Detroit could also stay neutral and do nothing
As well as Detroit has been playing, it wouldn't be the end of the world if they did nothing. It just depends on what Yzerman wants to do. Personally, I feel it would be best for Detroit if they waited for the offseason to make a big move. They may feel that McLellan can get them over the top by himself.