The Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets have a lot in common.
They're both playoff-starved teams on the verge of success. They both have a young core led by University of Michigan graduates. Zach Werenski and Moritz Seider - two star defenseman - are Norris Trophy-caliber finalists. They also both barely missed the playoffs again after coming close in the final stretch.
Rick Bowness, much like Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan, didn't mince words in his press conference following their elimination. The Blue Jackets finished just 2-8-1 leading up to their elimination game and Bowness was far from pleased. "These guys, they don’t care," Bowness remarked. "Losing is not important enough to them. It doesn't bother them."
Bowness's words ring true for Red Wings, too
Bowness continued his impassioned answer without pause. "This is why we're out of the playoffs," he added. "You have to hate losing. I don't care if it's a meaningless game. Show up and compete."
When asked why the Blue Jackets started to slow, he had a clear answer. "It stopped because things got tough. Everything's good as long as it's going their way. Now that it's tough, they don't want to battle back. We're gonna change that."
It's incredible how much these words apply to the Red Wings. Perhaps there's something to be said about how Bowness and McLellan coach their respective clubs. There's a clear sign that something needs to change with both organizations. Both teams have young, talented rosters. Both have their core locked up for the foreseeable future. Why, then, are they seemingly incapable of getting over the hump?
What McLellan can learn from Bowness
If Bowness has a plan to change the culture in Columbus, so should McLellan. For too long, the Red Wings have skated by with passive play, collapsing under any form of pressure or adversity. The same can be said of the Blue Jackets, who seem to suffer from similar late season collapses.
"Some of those guys are so lucky the season's over and there's no practice tomorrow," Bowness added. "If I’m back, we’re changing this freaking culture.”
What Bowness is preaching here is accountability. It's something that seems to be lacking among the veterans on this roster. When J.T. Compher makes a costly mistake, he plays the next game with the same minutes as if nothing's changed. When Axel Sandin-Pellikka makes a mistake, he sits the rest of the game or heads down to the AHL. The double-standard is infuriating.
Next season, the Red Wings need to employ a consistent, zero tolerance approach to accountability. Veterans should suffer the same consequences as rookies. There shouldn't be any preferential treatment to players based on pedigree. The team is all there for the same reason.
If they aren't prepared to live up to the Winged Wheel, they can find a career somewhere else.
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