I have so much to unpack, especially in terms of the Detroit Red Wings.
The Detroit Red Wings have welcomed a new, stern voice to the dressing room. Todd McLellan is a steady, demanding coach it seems that hopes to turn the ship around. Even if there’s not much ground made up in terms of the standings, the Detroit Red Wings need to play competitive, consistent hockey.
From the moment McLellan graced my screen, the vibes were completely different than I was used to from a Detroit Red Wings head coach. Rather than having uncertainty or a whole bunch of words coming out that don’t mean much (no offense to the previous coaches, but they seemed to have a different vibe), McLellan spoke candidly.
He mentioned watching the Detroit Red Wings this season. With the words he spoke and the picture he painted, I wholeheartedly believe him. Considering he only had a 48-hour turnaround between when he learned of his takeover as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings and arriving in Hockeytown, I don’t think there was too much time to do his homework, especially to the degree in which he spoke without having previously watched the Detroit Red Wings all season.
If I could transcribe the entire presser, I would, his words were that important to me. However, I will link the video below and hope you get a chance to check out the content in its entirety, as it’s well worth your time.
The video above also includes a press conference with Moritz Seider, Dylan Larkin, and Patrick Kane.
I want to touch on a few points from both segments, as well as McLelallan’s media availability after the Detroit Red Wings game Friday night.
Here are my first impressions of new Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan
To start off, McLellan stated it would take five to six games to understand the current state of the Detroit Red Wings. He emphasized that each player will get an opportunity to play, so I’m hoping that this fresh start for players like Jonatan Berggren and Albert Johansson will do wonders. Already, we’ve seen an increased role for Joseph Veleno. In his first media availability after the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he referenced Veleno as being a very smart player with good legs and the speed to keep up with Larkin and Lucas Raymond.
I appreciate that when things weren’t working, McLellan was willing to try anything and everything. Rather than giving up, he continued to push players and tinkered to find anything that worked in a 5-0 game going into the third period.
Aside from these new opportunities for players, as they aren’t put into boxes that they are incapable of crawling out of, McLellan made one of my favorite points that I’ve touched on before.
Usually, the best leaders are the ones who adapt to their team. They don’t force their teams to adapt to them. McLellan is of the same mindset. This mindset is a bit different than it was the last time McLellan was behind the bench for the Detroit Red Wings, which is refreshing to hear from a coach that he must evolve his coaching style. McLellan remarked that players aren’t going to change to 32 different coaches. Instead, coaches have to adjust to the players and find ways to get the most out of each player. Specifically, he mentioned that it might be:
- Accountability
- Tactically
- Relationship
- Culture
McLellan was emphatic that coaches are the ones who are trying to fit in not the players.
While certain philosophies are in place in McLellan’s coaching style, it’s important to adjust and adapt to players.
It’s a refreshing perspective as it seemed like previously, the Detroit Red Wings chose a system, but the coaches were so concerned with the system that they hammered it in so deeply that players forgot the most important thing. Playing hockey.
Having a structure in place is important. As importantly, players have to feel comfortable and confident within the system. Part of the issue might be personnel. Players like Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko are not made for the systems the Detroit Red Wings were selling.
In other ways, players might not have understood it.
As Yzerman mentioned in his press conference, players seemed frustrated. Frustrated that things weren’t working, frustrated with their role within the team, but I also wonder how much of the frustration stemmed from not understanding the concepts the coaches were trying to implement.
They say the biggest problem with communication is thinking it happened.
It’s a perspective that I hadn’t even thought about until McLellan mentioned the importance of a coach’s language.
Each coach has his own form of it, with certain words meaning something different to everyone involved. It’s possible the previous regime had this same approach, but it’s not something that I was ever aware of, but I can tell you one thing it’s something that would be vital to creating a successful system where players buy in. If a player doesn’t understand what he’s supposed to do, then it could lead to a snowball effect where things get more and more confusing.
"Language is really important when coaches come into a new situation. Some words that I may use might be foreign not only to the rest of the staff, Alex [Tanguay], and everybody else, but also to the players. And, based on my experience, there’s never a player putting his hand up in the air and going hey coach, ‘what does that word mean?’ So where do they go? They go find the nearest ally and that would be Yawns [Yawney] now for a little while."Todd McLellan
With this thought, Kane echoed the importance of keeping things simple.
With the way that McLellan was disciplined and detailed in his instructions to players, I believe he places a huge importance on players understanding his message.
Before, there was minimal talking on the bench, which is never a good sign. From players getting into their own heads to focusing on the wrong things and everywhere in between, players tend to be in different books let alone pages.
Having clarity is important for all players, but especially the young ones.
Something that I have noticed in all my years watching Simon Edvinsson I’ve observed he’s a bit different than other players. Every player is unique, but Edvinsson is just a step further.
Other players and coaches who want to run a system or play need him to pay attention and understand the plan of attack. I get that to some degree all players are like this, but Edvinsson is a very intuitive player who lets his instincts guide him first and foremost.
In terms of following a play or guide, Edvinsson has trouble staying focused (sometimes, he’s looking into the crowd or just zoned out). Part of that might be his personality, but then again, it might be a lack of understanding of what’s being said or the expectations being set for him.
I saw McLellan taking a significant amount of time to not only talk with Edvinsson, but he went as far as either writing or drawing something out for him. No tablet or fanciness involved, just good old quality time with the young defenseman.
From my viewings of Edvinsson, he responds very well to other players and coaches who take the time to explain things to him in ways that work for him. In particular, I know Johansson has a great working relationship with Edvinsson. He makes sure he communicates with Edvinsson at all times.
It’s welcoming to see.
If McLellan is willing to take that kind of time with Edvinsson, I imagine every player will get that same treatment. It might not be the same visualization, as each player is unique in what works for them, but it gives me confidence that McLellan will work to find the best ways to communicate with players.
Keeping it simple is important in every aspect of life, but especially when the stakes are so high for the Detroit Red Wings (or low, depending on your viewpoint).
Also, it’s possible that the former regime took the time with players, too, so this might all be water under the bridge. To me, though, I’m seeing a night and day difference so far and it’s not just the head coach having hair on his head.