Don’t Underestimate Value of Red Wings Yawney

Todd McLellan is getting plenty of kudos since taking over as coach of the Detroit Red Wings and rightfully so. The team is 15-5-1 under his leadership, and holding down an Eastern Conference Wild Card playoff sport.

The other half of the equation that arrived in town with McLellan should not be overlooked when assessing causes for this Detroit turnaround. Assistant coach Trent Yawney also has his fingerprints all over this Red Wings renaissance.

A former NHL defenseman who logged 593 games along big-league bluelines, Yawney as a coach is credited with being a sensei for young defensemen. Already, there’s evidence of that in Detroit. Simon Edvinsson, 22, is playing his best hockey the season since McLellan and Yawney arrived in town. Rookie Albert Johansson, 24, is performing with the poise of a veteran since his insertion into the second pairing alongside Edvinsson.

The Detroit Red Wings have hired Trent Yawney as an assistant coach. Yawney, 59, most recently was an assistant coach for 5 seasons (2019-2024) with the Los Angeles Kings. Yawney is reunited with Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan.#DetroitRedWings#TrentYawney pic.twitter.com/oQKEODAncL

— Poeskie's Sports News Alert (@PoeskieA) December 26, 2024

“Obviously I wanted him here, I felt like I needed him here,” McLellan said of Yawney. “It just hasn’t been here, but the young defensemen in Edmonton and Anaheim and Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook (in Chicago) would tell you that.

“The development he’s done in the American League as well as all the other organizations in and around the NHL would give you the best answer to how important he is, but we’re lucky to have him.”

Red Wings Yawney Delivers Tough Love

Along with his work in Chicago with multiple Stanley Cup winners Seabrook and Keith, the latter a Norris and Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Yawney has mentored several young rearguards who were breaking into the NHL. In San Jose, he worked with Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jason Demers. With Anaheim, his students included Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Shea Theodore, Brandon Montour and Josh Manson.

Moving to Edmonton, Yawney found himself teaching Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard. In Los Angeles, Yawney tutored Mikey Anderson and Brandt Clarke.

I’m willing to give Todd McLellan and Trent Yawney significant time to try to reshape the #RedWings roster. I don’t even care if it takes even longer than a year or two.

— The Michigan Sports Truth Podcast (@michigan_truth) December 28, 2024

With Yawney, it’s not all hugs and positive reinforcement. He’ll swing a few brickbats, as well as delivering bouquets. But every defenseman he coaches knows when times are tough, Yawney has got their back.

“I think Yawns’ biggest strength is his support for the back end,” McLellan said. “It’s not always kumbaya and everything’s fine. He treats them like a father would and holds them accountable, but also has a lot of support for them.

“When we get into the coaches room and we start bitching about a defenseman, there is support there and I think the D feel that.”

Yawney Figures To Be Huge Detroit Asset

Going forward, it will prove difficult to underestimate the value that Yawney is bringing to the Red Wings. There’s a pipeline of young defensive talent heading to Detroit, players such as Axel Sandin Pellikka, William Wallinder, Shai Buium and Antti Tuomisto.

He could prove vital to Detroit’s long-term success if the Yawney effect helps turn them into quality NHL defenders.

“I think when you’ve coached and played as much as he has you think about your role as a player and how you were treated by coaches,” McLellan said. “The type of feedback and support you received from those coaches. How you learned as a player from those coaches, and then you try to apply it.

“But he’s smart enough to understand that not everybody’s Trent Yawney. Everybody learns in a different way.”