Disjointed Red Wings Have Coach Worried on Eve of NHL Season

School figures to be in session when the Detroit Red Wings hit the ice on Tuesday. Coach Todd McLellan saw nothing pleasing about their performance in Monday’s 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He believes that it might be time for some remedial lessons.

“Some of the older players have to get their games going quickly,” McLellan said. “Almost a week from today or tomorrow, we’re playing against really, really good teams (in regular-season games). And some guys, in my opinion, after watching them tonight … aren’t ready to play yet.

“So it’ll be our job to have a chat with them, maybe as early as tomorrow, and put them on notice.”

Kindy gets us going 🙌 pic.twitter.com/gvUDqbACXo

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 29, 2025

The most impressive performance turned in on Monday by anyone wearing a winged wheel was by a kid doing yo-yo tricks in the crowd. He got plenty of attention from the Little Caesars Arena video board. In all honesty, he was quite handy with a yo-yo.

No one came to see him perform, though. And as talented as he was, that’s not going to help the Red Wings end their playoff drought.

Dismal Performance By Red Wings

Let’s talk about the fellows the fans were paying to see.

“I wasn’t really impressed with our team, to be quite honest with you,” McLellan said. “I thought we looked slow and sloppy, and I don’t know which caused what.

“Sometimes the legs move you around the rink slowly, and sometimes the sloppiness causes you to be disjointed.

“We were both. And I thought they looked quicker and a little more determined on pucks. And, yeah, at the end of the night, we got what we deserved. You know, the 2-1 loss.”

T🚨MMY! pic.twitter.com/tfRQi0iEJZ

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 30, 2025

For sure, you can say it’s just preseason. These wins and losses don’t count in the standings.

Still, isn’t this all just a little bit alarming? The coach is feeling the need to give his team a wake-up call when everyone is supposedly fighting for roles on the team.

Based on this team’s history over the past decade, it certainly seems like cause for concern.