Detroit Red Wings respond to Todd McLellan’s demand to play freaking hockey

The message was sent loud and clear in the Detroit Red Wings first official practice with new head coach Todd McLellan:

Heading into their first game following the practice, the Detroit Red Wings faced off against the powerhouse that is the Washington Capitals. If there ever was a time to find out if McLellan’s message was received, there was no better team to do it against. 

Along with his message of just playing hockey, McLellan brought a sense of intensity and demand of his players that was refreshing to see. He called upon veterans to bring more to the table (in his press conference after being hired):

"Think [Dylan Larkin] shoulders a lot of responsibility here. There’s a lot of weight put on his shoulders for the amount of time that he’s been here. The questions and answers he’s had to give on a nightly basis is not easy. It’s part of wearing the “C.” I saw Stevie [Steve Yzerman] and Nick [Nicklas Lidström] do it.

But sometimes the circumstances put a lot of weight on your shoulders. You can kind of see it in his face a little bit right now.

From a distance, watching postgame interviews and stuff...I feel it for him. I’d like to see that spread out a little bit. I want to see somebody else take some of that responsibility on and it starts with me. I’ll answer some of those questions."

Todd McLellan

Detroit Red Wings respond to head coach Todd McLellan’s demand to play [expletive] hockey

Before Sunday night’s matchup, the Detroit Red Wings had another rough game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although it got out of hand early, the Detroit Red Wings didn’t quit as they have done in most games this season. They continued to push, and as McLellan said in the media availability afterward it’s easier to let a game get to 7-0 than getting it to 5-2. 

The Detroit Red Wings resilience was a foreshadow for their face-off against the Washington Capitals.

McLellan and his staff grew concerned that players might become too mechanic. As he elaborated further in his media availabilities, he seemed concerned that players would think too much instead of just playing hockey. In his latest media availability, McLellan mentioned that players have great instincts, and they must use those instincts. Systems and structure might be important, but not when they get more in the way than anything else. Yet, McLellan knew the players had to have a better structure in place—a foundation to continue to build on throughout the season.

As it turned out, McLellan and his coaching staff seemed to have perfect balance in challenging players in an updated system. Meanwhile, players used their instincts and abilities to have a positive impact on the game. 

Resultantly, the Detroit Red Wings played freaking hockey as their new head coach requested.

They slayed the first period. There aren’t other ways to put it, the Detroit Red Wings took the game to the Washington Capitals. 

As expected, the Washington Capitals didn’t take kindly to the Detroit Red Wings. The further the game went along, the more the Detroit Red Wings faced the wrath of a team destined for the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs. 

McLellan alluded to this concept in his postgame media availability linked above. Citing an empty gas tank as a possible issue, he elaborated that an empty gas tank may appear for a variety of reasons not only because a group is tired physically. Players can have mental exhaustion.

The Detroit Red Wings players have lost their way, suffering so badly that even widely known rink rat, captain Dylan Larkin, found it difficult to come to the rink. 

With all the losses, frustration, and heartache, McLellan says guys try to hold on to something positive like a 4-2 lead. 

It’s refreshing to hear from a coach who understands the things players are feeling right now, the motions they’re going through, if you will. 

As importantly, McLellan noted lots of things he liked but also mentioned something to improve. However, I much prefer the way he said it. In my life, I’ve found how something is positioned is everything—even more important than the message that someone is trying to get across. 

McLellan mentioned that there was a mistake where players misread the tea leaves and the puck ended up in the back of the Detroit Red Wings net. He said it wasn’t an omission but commission. Commission is something he can work with as it’s not related to effort. Instead, it’s finding a better way to read the play.

Even though McLellan shared a negative, he didn’t harp or dwell on it. Instead, he identified an issue, then offered to help fix or mitigate the problem. So not only can he see the problem that happened, he wants to help players fix it. In a way, McLellan has taken ownership (or at least partially) for that mistake and the responsibility to help improve. 

Something so seemingly minor will make a world of difference for these players. They’ve desperately needed leadership, someone who knows the path that they’re traversing and is going to help get them through the challenges their facing. 

Another one of my bosses let me know a leader is meant to help identify obstacles and help people work through, over, under, around, or remove those obstacles to make our people’s jobs easier. From what I’m gathering from McLellan, it’s exactly what he intends to do.

His players will be that much better because of his actions.