Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings McLellan: Holl ‘Had a Terrible Night’
Motte leaves loss to Sharks with head injury

You’ve got to give Detroit Red Wings coach Todd McLellan credit for his up-front honesty.
Even when it’s brutal honesty.
It’s not often than an NHL coach will describe a performance by one of his players as terrible. Yet that was exactly the adjective McLellan was applying to the performance of defenseman Justin Holl in Tuesdays 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks.
“I’m not going to sit up here and BS for him,” McLellan said. “He had a terrible night and that’s just the way it is.”
Holl’s defensive zone turnover led to Jan Rutta’s goal that opened the scoring at 1:45 of the first period. His giveaway in the third period was leading to Tyler Toffoli’s goal that put the Sharks ahead 5-3 with 10:57 to play.
Tyler Toffoli!
5-3 #TheFutureIsTeal pic.twitter.com/yn4ZA6OL6U— JD Young (@MyFryHole) January 15, 2025
Holl didn’t play another shift the remainder of the game. McLellan was asked post-game if that was sending a message to the veteran defenseman.
“Well, sending a message,” McLellan said. “He sent himself a message. I think that’s pretty obvious.
“So whether he got on in the last five minutes or not, it really doesn’t matter. He knows he can play better. And I’m telling you before I’m going to tell him, but I am going to tell him that tomorrow and that’s up to him to fix.
“I know he’s a better player than that.”
Red Wings Motte Leaves With Facial Injury
Red Wings center Tyler Motte didn’t return to action after crashing face first into the end boards during the second period. He was doubled over and bleeding profusely from the face as he was leaving the ice.
#LGRW's Tyler Motte catches an edge. Unfortunately gets injured on this shift.#TheFutureIsTeal 2 #LGRW 1 pic.twitter.com/ei2jOznx1V
— TEAL TOWN USA – A San Jose Sharks Podcast (@TEALTOWNUSA) January 15, 2025
Officially, the team was announcing that Motte was done for the night with an upper-body injury.
It’s entirely possible that the Red Wings may be placing Motte on IR and recalling a forward from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Veteran NHLer Austin Watson would seem to be the most likely candidate if this scenario were to unfold.
“Yeah, we may have to,” McLellan admitted about calling up a player. “I wish I could give you the answer, but I’m not sure.
“He didn’t return and he’s obviously getting looked at. He hit the boards pretty hard and obviously face first, I think, so he was in rough shape.”