With the Detroit Red Wings fading fast from the playoff picture, new head coach Todd McLellan isn’t mincing words. After Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, the Wings’ second consecutive defeat, McLellan issued a very clear challenge to his locker room.
“Now, individual reputations are on the line in my opinion,” McLellan said as quoted by the Detroit Free Press. “Coaches. Players. We talk about playing for the crest on the front, but our actions or inactions now are directly reflective of individuals.”
In other words: if you can’t play for the team at this point in the season, play for your name.
A Brutal Reality Check
Let’s not sugarcoat it. The Red Wings have lost two straight, and at 36-35-7, they’re now eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens with only four games left. The playoff dream? Basically gone.
“The story for the playoffs is certainly written,” McLellan admitted. “But the season’s not done and the evaluation goes on. That’s what we’re writing now.”
That’s the tone of a coach who knows the postseason is out of reach but isn’t letting his team cruise to the finish line. McLellan, brought in with a reputation for accountability and intensity, is demanding effort, energy, and character — even if the stakes are no longer playoff games.
No Time to Mail It In
“You want to play a type of game that’s reflective of your individual character, then that’s great,” McLellan said. “Because you’ve got family, you’ve got fans, you’ve got teammates watching you. When you’re out, you have a tendency to say OK, we’re done, and you mail it in. That’s not acceptable in my opinion.”
This isn’t just about stats or standings. It’s about pride. About culture. McLellan’s message is a loud reminder to anyone on the ice (and maybe in the front office, too): this is a tryout for the future.
The Bottom Line
With just a few games left and the playoffs nearly out of reach, the Red Wings are skating for something else now — respect. Todd McLellan is laying down the challenge, and the question becomes: Who’s going to respond?
Because when the season ends, the real evaluations begin. And the tape doesn’t lie.
Detroit fans deserve more. The jersey demands more. And as McLellan made crystal clear — it’s time for every Wing to show what they’re really made of.
Todd and Stevie have the toughest jobs in the league. Attracting players to Detroit is hard. Look at how hard it is for them to get big, tough, strong, mean players. It has been nearly 30 yrs since they had anyone who has any of these qualities. They need at least 3 guys like this with at least one with a criminal record. As they are now, a strong WNBA team would knock the stuffing out of the Wings