Detroit Red Wings Deliver Stern Demotion to Captain Dylan Larkin
Detroit Red Wings head coach, Todd McLellan, demotes team captain, Dylan Larkin, to third line following loss against Columbus Blue Jackets.
The loss wasn't taken lightly, with both teams standing at 66 points, the Red Wings are currently tied to the Blue Jackets in the Wild division for the playoffs.
Todd McLellan, the Wing's GM, was very unsettled by the noticeable lack of effort received from the team, especially from their team captain, Dylan Larkin.
Following the game, Todd McLellan spoke up, refusing to excuse any lack of commitment, and that did not exclude Larkin.
«I can't beat around the bush - he was missing» McLellan stated.
«He's a big boy, he can handle hearing that. He's going to hear it from me. Just a lot of mishandles, unsure plays that he usually makes.»
«He's a big boy, he can handle hearing that. He's going to hear it from me. Just a lot of mishandles, unsure plays that he usually makes.»
McLellan unexpectedly demoted Larkin to the third line, as his line with Lucas Raymond and Marco Kasper wasn't getting it done, and the Wings were trying to overcome a two-goal deficit.
«The three of them did not have a good night, so we needed to try something,» McLellan explained.
«It wasn't going well, so as a coach, you make a decision to shuffle things around, try to ignite something or find a couple of players who are going to.»
«It wasn't going well, so as a coach, you make a decision to shuffle things around, try to ignite something or find a couple of players who are going to.»
The Red Wings head coach pointed out the minimal effort given by the majority of the team that ultimately concluded in their loss.
«I thought we did a real poor job of doing some of the hard things. At the blue paint, but also up top. We had opportunities to take a puck to the shin or the ankle or to the leg and it seemed to get by us. And that's a little disappointing because you can't go to where this group wants to without that being part of it.»
Given the stakes for Saturday's outdoor game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Red Wings' dedication is essential, especially from their captain.
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