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Todd McLellan. Danny Wild-Imagn Images

After four straight wins, Todd McLellan has the Red Wings believing again

By Natalie Vaitas | Last updated Jan 6, 2025 4:02 PM ET

The Todd McLellan era didn't exactly get off to the best start in Detroit. After having a singular morning skate with the team the day of his first game as Red Wings coach, the 57-year-old bench vet found himself down to the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-0 later that night.

Since then, however, Detroit has outscored opponents 17-10, and, following the 5-2 loss to Toronto, has won four games in a row. The team's most recent victory on the road against the league-best Winnipeg Jets might be its most impressive.

The coaching change in Detroit seems to have sparked the team. Winger Patrick Kane has three goals and four assists in five games under McLellan after struggling his first 29 games.

Kane recently spoke on the team's newfound confidence.

"I think the changes we've made give us a lot of confidence," Kane said. "You could say what you want about it being the honeymoon period and whatnot but I think we've made some changes to our game that will help us no matter what time frame we're in with the coach. I think you gotta take advantage of it. These are exciting times, exciting changes to our game to help us play a little bit more aggressive and be on our toes, and I think everyone wants to play like that. So I think we're all getting more confident by the day."

"I think we're all getting more confident by the day."

️: Patrick Kane, Todd McLellan
: https://t.co/9rXtcl7dl7 pic.twitter.com/Zj30KQzw2G
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 6, 2025

McLellan, who previously coached the San Jose Sharks (2008-15), Edmonton Oilers (2015-19) and Los Angeles Kings (2019-24), is a veteran who had worked before in Detroit as an assistant, winning the Stanley Cup in 2008. He's rejuvenated several areas of struggle for the Red Wings, including their scoring, penalty kill and defending.

In their first 34 games, Detroit had one of the worst offenses in the league, averaging just 2.56 goals for per game (29th) and 25.1 shots per game (31st). Under McLellan, the Red Wings are averaging 3.80 goals for (fourth) and 26.4 shots for (25th). They've scored four or more goals in every game during this four-game win streak and haven't been outshot in any game under McLellan.

Additionally, although the team's power play had been decent all year at 22.5% (11th), it hadn't been very successful in the month of December at just 10% (29th). Now, the Red Wings have scored a man advantage goal in every game under McLellan, hitting at a 50% rate, the best in the league in that span.

Defensively, it was clear that Detroit needed to improve the penalty kill, which was second to last in the league at a historically bad rate of 68.8%. McLellan brought along with him Trent Yawney, an assistant coach that had been with him in Los Angeles, to run the defense and penalty kill.

In the past five games, the Red Wings' penalty kill has improved massively, with an 80% success rate (15th), including going 2-for-2 on the kill against the Jets, who have the best power play in the league.

Detroit has also seen an improvement in its general defense. Prior to McLellan, the Red Wings were allowing 30.1 shots against per game, the fifth most in the league. Under McLellan, they're allowing just 24.0, the second best in the league since Dec. 27.

For the Red Wings, they still have a tough road ahead of them, as the Eastern Conference wild card remains tight. Their upcoming Tuesday game against Ottawa, who is two points ahead of Detroit, will be a big one. For now, though, McLellan has the team energized and believing once more.

Natalie Vaitas

Natalie Vaitas is a sports writer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She received her Sport Management degree from Aquinas College in 2021, where she was a member of the women's hockey team. She has experience covering the NHL and her hometown Detroit Red Wings; she also enjoys attending Michigan football games with her family.

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