Red Wings Free to Play to Their Strengths

Free at last, free at last, the Detroit Red Wings are feeling free at last.

A three-game winning streak, matching a season high, does have a way of doing that. Then again, so does the refreshing approach of a new head coach who is encouraging his players to be themselves.

Ever since Todd McLellan took over as coach of the club, there’s been a change in approach and a turnaround in outcomes.

“The feeling since Todd took over is a lot of energy, especially at the start,” Detroit forward Jonatan Berggren said. “Feeling like the games and practices have been really good so far.

THE BLOCK. THE PASS. THE SHOT. pic.twitter.com/XF77fp5ZTX

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 3, 2025

“I’m feeling like there’s confidence in the game. We don’t want to sit back and watch the game. We want to attack and skate a lot.”

The Red Wings are 3-1 under McLellan. This change, though is more than just results on the scoreboard. Under Derek Lalonde, the Wings were a paint by numbers squad. Their approach was staid. From a spectator standpoint, it was in a word, boring.

Red Wings Advised Not To Fear Mistakes

McLellan is asking his club to push the tempo. He wants them to compartmentalize any fear of mistakes. Go for it and learn from failure.

“It’s more like don’t be afraid to like maybe do mistakes,” Berggren said of McLellan’s message to the team.

That’s a novel approach in today’s NHL, which has turned the blocked shot into a work of art. And it’s a complete 180 from Lalonde’s messaging.

“Like I feel like maybe I was thinking a little bit too much about don’t make mistakes in the beginning,” Berggren said of the start of the season. “I’m feeling like Todd and I have a kind of the same, like, mindset about the game, how we want to play.”

It’s working. Berggren has scored breakaway goals in successive games. Patrick Kane has goals in each game during this winning streak.

Patrick Kane cleans it up. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/rkctlKv3Ap

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 3, 2025

He is also appreciating how McLellan is simplifying the game for the Red Wings and encouraging players to bring to the ice the skills that are unique to them.

“You just want to play off your instinct and obviously have a few things in your mind that you want to abide to,” Kane said.

Perhaps Berggren was summing it up best.

“Right now it’s feeling really, really good,” he said.

That’s a sensation rarely found around the Red Wings this season.