The Detroit Red Wings needed a win, however sloppy defensive play cost the team. Accordingly, the worst ranked team in the league beat them. The Red Wings commitment to defense could cost them the playoffs again.
Head Coach Todd McLellan was very candid in the post game. The Wings simply aren’t making defense a priority. Consequently, when the team can’t score four or more goals they struggle.
Conversely, the Grand RapidsGriffins continued their torrid pace with a six to three win. Detroit’s issues are being magnified by that success. Yet, how can the Red Wings mirror that success?
Detroit needs to change their mindset
Interestingly, Detroit faced these issues 30 years ago. After a Cup finals sweep, big changes were considered. Shockingly, then team captain Steve Yzerman was nearly traded. However, Yzerman was able to tap in to a franchise changing mindset.
Yzerman changed his game, at the behest of coach Scotty Bowman. “The Captain” began prioritizing defense. Therein, Steve Yzerman sacrificed goal scoring in his game. That change was the impetus for multiple Stanley Cup wins.
Detroit’s 25 year post season run was defined by defensive commitment. Players like Yzerman and later Pavel Datsyuk became invaluable. Even so, that commitment has not been recreated by the current roster. Something is going to have to change, and new voices on the bench may be required.
The coaches and the players are at an impasse
Coach Todd McLellan demands defense, yet the team keeps slipping. The gap is obvious now, and fixing it requires a major mindset shift from the players.
Detroit tried to upgrade defensively, but the moves have fallen flat. Andrew Copp and JT Compher aren’t delivering, and both have slid into the bottom six. The Red Wings need another voice on the ice-and fast.
Ryan O’Reilly and Rasmus Andersson have surfaced in trade rumors, two players who could stabilize the lineup. But trades cost assets, and Detroit must decide whether immediate help is worth the price. If nothing changes soon, the Red Wings could tumble to the bottom of the division.
