It finally occurred. For some time, it seemed uncertain. Since the Illich family acquired the Detroit Red Wings, the number of head coaches let go mid-season has been few and far between, barely filling one hand.
For the past three months, the Detroit Red Wings have been playing lackluster, uninspired hockey, with few shots on goal, resulting in even fewer goals and wins. This is especially disappointing given the presence of skilled players like Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin, and Vladimir Tarasenko. As a result, fans have pointed fingers at Lalonde, blaming his system for the team’s struggles.
Defensively, Lalonde‘s systems were effective at five-on-five, keeping the team ranked in the upper half of the league in key defensive stats. However, his approach seemed solely focused on defense. The offensive systems he implemented at even strength often led to endless passing, always searching for the perfect shot, which, more often than not, wasn’t available.
With the team in dire need of change, and aside from considering player trades, a coaching change is typically the first move a general manager makes to try to turn the season around. Enter Todd McLellan.
I’ll admit that Todd McLellan wasn’t my first choice as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings. However, McLellan has proven that he understands what it takes to build a successful team, and he’s not afraid to bench players who aren’t performing. He’s also unafraid to call out the team when they aren’t playing up to par.
Throughout his career, McLellan has coached the San Jose Sharks (2008-2015), Edmonton Oilers (2015-2019), and Los Angeles Kings (2019-2024). He holds a regular-season record of 598-412-134 and a 42-46 playoff record across 88 postseason games. While his playoff record isn’t the best, he’s had deep runs with the Sharks and has led every team he’s coached to the playoffs—though, for the Red Wings, the challenge will be getting there first.
McLellan is known for being an offense-first coach. During his time with the Kings, his teams have never averaged fewer than two goals per game. However, his penalty kill units have generally been below the NHL average. Over his 15 full seasons as a head coach, his teams have had a league-average or better penalty kill in seven of them. On the other hand, his power play units have exceeded the league average in nine of those 15 seasons.
After researching McLellan’s career, he seems like a near-perfect fit for a rebuilding team with playoff aspirations. He’s tough but fair, and his systems are well-rounded. He should be able to help get the top six firing and involve the bottom six more in the play. With players like Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, Jeff Petry, and Erik Gustafsson on the blue line, along with a top six that boasts some of the best shots in the league, the Red Wings’ five-on-five offense should be much better than it has been.
While I know it will still take a bit of a miracle for this team to re-enter the playoff race, this change is a positive step. It’s important, however, not to expect McLellan to instantly turn this team into a playoff contender. The same players are still here, and it’s ultimately up to them to execute on the ice. That said, while I liked Derek Lalonde and believe he still has a future as an NHL coach, McLellan’s arrival has sparked a renewed sense of hope among Detroit Red Wings fans. At the very least, it’s a sign that the team will be more enjoyable to watch moving forward.
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