Duff: Not Good Enough. Red Wings Need a Lot More From a Lot More Players

If there’s one factor that’s been clearly evident from the moment he arrived to take over as coach of the Detroit Red Wings, it’s that Todd McLellan is as honest as the day is long.

Sometimes, it’s a brutal brand of honesty. Take his assessment of Marco Kasper’s season so far.

“Well, he’s not where he needs to be,” McLellan said. “You know, I could lie, but you guys would call me a liar right away.

“He’s not where he needs to be. He’s got some work to do.”

@DetroitRedWings should we be concerned about Marco Kasper? He has done almost nothing this season so far. Im worried he's turning into another Andrew Copp. #LGRW

— Wings + Lions (@IamTonyBanner) November 8, 2025

Then McLellan rattled off a laundry list of elements lacking in Kasper’s game.

“Last year, the competitiveness and the second attempt, third attempt in around the net, crashing the crease, solid two ways, checking his way into offense, those were all staples of his game,” McLellan said.

This season, Kasper has three goals in 16 games. He’s still looking for his first assist of the season. For someone who played 15 of those 16 games at center, there’s no sugarcoating it. That’s an appalling stat.

Kasper Among Many Struggling Red Wings

Here’s another factor about this team – Kasper is far from the only player who needs to be doing more.

Andrew Copp, Elmer Soderblom, and Michael Rasmussen are three Detroit forwards who are still idling on one goal for the season.

That’s also unacceptable.

“We’re 20% done with the season,” McLellan said. “And some of those players … they’re at one goal and some of them are empty net goals, too.”

At practice on Tuesday, McLellan gathered these struggling forwards and put them on the spot.

Arvid Soderblom SHUTS the door on his brother Elmer Soderblom after a great move in close 👀🙅‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/ylQLwO7dnN

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 9, 2025

“I asked some of them, ‘When’s the last time you had a tip or deflection in and around the paint, or had a rebound shot?'” McLellan said.

We did the math. Copp has gone five games without a shot on goal. Kasper, a 19-goal scorer last season, has two shots over his past three games.

By contrast, Nate Danielson put four shots on goal in his NHL debut on Sunday against Chicago.

Captain Dylan Larkin netted eight goals in the first 10 games, and Detroit was 7-3. He has one goal since, and the Red Wings are 2-4 over that span.

Larkin sought to associate the blame for the club’s current three-game losing streak with his lack of offensive output.

McLellan wouldn’t hear of it.

“It’s noble again for him to put that on his shoulders,” McLellan said. “But … others have to step up and contribute and figure out a way to get it done.”