Patrick Kane Opens up On Huge Challenge From New Head Coach Todd McLellan
The Detroit Red Wings made a change at Head Coach over the holiday break, and now one of their top leaders has responded to his first big challenge to the team.
With an eight year Stanley Cup Playoff drought coming in 2024/25, there was optimism in the Motor City that the Detroit Red Wings compiled a good enough roster that they could end that run this season.
Unfortunately, heading into the holiday break this team was 13-17-4 and on the verge of falling apart completely, and that's when they made a big change behind the bench, as they fired Derek Lalonde and replaced him with Todd McLellan.
In his first official challenge to the team, McLellan kept his message incredibly simple:
Now, veteran leader Patrick Kane has responded to the challenge from McLellan, and with the team 1-1-0 in the two games he's been behind the bench, it appears as though the team are ready to step up and answer the call.
I think that's a good way to play too. Not thinking to much and you're just playing off of instinct... overall just make the game a little simpler for us.
Simply put, the Red Wings have a solid group led by an incredibly talented core, and now with McLellan in place, the belief is that they can chase down a playoff spot in 2024/25.
To make that happen, this team needs to keep it simple however, and if the entire team can buy into McLellan's message, expect to see some very fun hockey from Detroit in the coming months.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Jason Zucker | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Troy Terry | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| James Van Riemsdyk | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Alex DeBrincat | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Devon Toews | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Zachary Werenski | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Nathan MacKinnon | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Tage Thompson | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Lawson Crouse | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Roope Hintz | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Cale Makar | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Bobby McMann | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Matthew Beniers | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Blake Coleman | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jonathan Drouin | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matt Duchene | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Vince Dunn | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Radko Gudas | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ryan Hartman | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Alex Iafallo | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 40 | 27 | 11 | 2 | 56 | |
Golden Knights | 38 | 26 | 9 | 3 | 55 | |
Capitals | 38 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 53 | |
Wild | 39 | 24 | 11 | 4 | 52 | |
Devils | 41 | 24 | 14 | 3 | 51 | |
Maple Leafs | 39 | 24 | 13 | 2 | 50 | |
Kings | 37 | 22 | 10 | 5 | 49 | |
Hurricanes | 38 | 23 | 13 | 2 | 48 | |
Avalanche | 39 | 24 | 15 | - | 48 | |
Panthers | 39 | 23 | 14 | 2 | 48 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||