Jeremy Laura: Red Wings rebuild by the numbers. Can McLellan help the team level up?

Sorry if you dealt with multiple edits. Was having massive issues this morning with this post

McLellan is really good at taking teams a notch or two up, but for some reason once the team is elevated and starting to face adversity he just can't adjust.

He almost starts to refuse to make adjustments which is very frustrating as a fan.

Then GM's keep him around longer because he was able to get more out of the team at one point so they think he can do it again.

If I were Yzerman or any GM, as soon as your team starts to get stale I'd be moving on from him. He'll be good to get some stability and structure in, but as soon as it becomes a situation where he needs to change his game plan it won't happen.

McLellan is really good at taking teams a notch or two up, but for some reason once the team is elevated and starting to face adversity he just can't adjust.

He almost starts to refuse to make adjustments which is very frustrating as a fan.

Then GM's keep him around longer because he was able to get more out of the team at one point so they think he can do it again.

If I were Yzerman or any GM, as soon as your team starts to get stale I'd be moving on from him. He'll be good to get some stability and structure in, but as soon as it becomes a situation where he needs to change his game plan it won't happen.
- Lahey

There are a couple coaches that seem to “right the ship” then bye. Torts comes to mind for sure. I really appreciate the drop in on that. Thank you so much for popping in!

There are a couple coaches that seem to “right the ship” then bye. Torts comes to mind for sure. I really appreciate the drop in on that. Thank you so much for popping in!
- Jeremy Laura

At least with TM he isn't going to piss off players to the extent where they are looking to leave.

TM will eventually lose the locker room as it's not working on the ice, but you don't have to worry about him pissing off players with his attitude and wanting out after one training camp.

At least with TM he isn't going to piss off players to the extent where they are looking to leave.

TM will eventually lose the locker room as it's not working on the ice, but you don't have to worry about him pissing off players with his attitude and wanting out after one training camp.
- Lahey

Torts is definitely not known for being a “player’s coach”. He’ll get the initial bump but there are players who won’t go with his style. I honestly wish Trotz was still a coach. Players seem to love that dude. Washington screwed up letting him go and deciding to replace him

Torts is definitely not known for being a “player’s coach”. He’ll get the initial bump but there are players who won’t go with his style. I honestly wish Trotz was still a coach. Players seem to love that dude. Washington screwed up letting him go and deciding to replace him
- Jeremy Laura

I like Torts, really think that he understands the game real well both in what a team needs to do to be successful and what is needed for players to be long-term NHLers. Problem is the way he sends that message out. Sadly it just hasn't learned. He said the right things when he went to Vancouver, but clearly just didn't fully learn.

I agree on Trotz. For a guy that coached for 20 years you don't hear anything really bad about him. Not sure we ever see him again unless he fills in after firing Brunette(when that day comes). But to do it full time again I think he's done with, especially with his boy.

McLellan is really good at taking teams a notch or two up, but for some reason once the team is elevated and starting to face adversity he just can't adjust.

He almost starts to refuse to make adjustments which is very frustrating as a fan.

Then GM's keep him around longer because he was able to get more out of the team at one point so they think he can do it again.

If I were Yzerman or any GM, as soon as your team starts to get stale I'd be moving on from him. He'll be good to get some stability and structure in, but as soon as it becomes a situation where he needs to change his game plan it won't happen.
- Lahey

I think in Detroit, it's too early to make that prediction. There simply isn't enough talent on the ice to really see how high this team can go and what he can do with it. What you're saying about TM may be true with other teams in the past... but let's wait and see how things pan out before we throw in the towel. This team will get a large infusion of very good young talent next season and more the following season. Half the roster will be different very soon. The older free agent contracts will be expiring and freeing up roster spots... thank goodness for that.

I think in Detroit, it's too early to make that call. There simply isn't enough talent on the ice to really see how high this team can go and what he can do with it. What you're saying about TM may be true with other teams in the past... but let's wait and see how things pan out before we throw in the towel. This team will get a large infusion of very good young talent next season and more the following season. Half the roster will be different very soon. The old free agent contracts will be expiring and freeing up roster spots... thank goodness for that.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Just to clarify I wouldn't throw in the towel with him right now, but Yzerman will have to watch by year 2-3 and not keep him if things hit a wall

I like Torts, really think that he understands the game real well both in what a team needs to do to be successful and what is needed for players to be long-term NHLers. Problem is the way he sends that message out. Sadly it just hasn't learned. He said the right things when he went to Vancouver, but clearly just didn't fully learn.

I agree on Trotz. For a guy that coached for 20 years you don't hear anything really bad about him. Not sure we ever see him again unless he fills in after firing Brunette(when that day comes). But to do it full time again I think he's done with, especially with his boy.
- Lahey

Yeah, at some point you have to tap out. He loves his son and seeing them skate together was awesome. One of the Wings broadcasters said that whenever Trotz was around, there was a line of former players waiting to say hi. Speaks volumes of how players felt about him.

I think in Detroit, it's too early to make that prediction. There simply isn't enough talent on the ice to really see how high this team can go and what he can do with it. What you're saying about TM may be true with other teams in the past... but let's wait and see how things pan out before we throw in the towel. This team will get a large infusion of very good young talent next season and more the following season. Half the roster will be different very soon. The older free agent contracts will be expiring and freeing up roster spots... thank goodness for that.
- Vladdie_Kon1

It will be interesting. I know coaches learn and develop from mistakes. Getting some of the dead weight off, and his record even with the current lineup are signs of a better start. As I went through all the games played and looked at how rough the stretches were and just the difference in winning percentages between the two coaches. I’m really concerned about next year’s condensed schedule and hoping the board of governors will agree to nixing “every team plays every team” as Bettman suggested. The Olympics and all star weekend are going to have some players with between 3 and 4 weeks off of playing and they still want to add 2 games at this point. The pipeline could be very active this year just to keep a healthy roster. Olympics switching to North American rink style feels like one more chance for players to get banged up. It will be interesting to see how they manage everything.

Does anyone else have a feeling Yzerman is hiding from the press and the fans?
Still no post season presser?

Does anyone else have a feeling Yzerman is hiding from the press and the fans?
Still no post season presser?
- StargateSG1

I don’t think he’s hiding, i hear from one of the pressers now and again. He literally just does everything on his schedule when it comes to press stuff. Obviously the Larkin comment is bound to come up so no clue as to what’s happening behind the scenes (if anything). Not sure how much time they’re spending in GR with the week off to get ASP and MBN inserted into the lineup. There’s probably a healthy contingent watching those practices.

Some good insights & thoughts. Coaching is the straw that stirs the drink, imo. Trotz was epic....heck, BORADCASTERS would line up just to BS with him! It takes a special talent to be able to tame glaring egos.....no one could do it like Bowman, but Trotz was a very close 2d.

Listen, TM is going to make some staff changes this off-season, will be able to emplace HIS schemes fully, will have a very different line-up, then another infusion of talent coming out of next off-season. By '27, I'd think we'll have the 75% pure Todd Father system & roster established. THAT'S when we can realistically look at some sort of time-limit on his tenure. I'll say that I like what I see thus far. I want a full season with a viable line-up to see what this guy can do.