Red Wings coach Todd McLellan gets honest about situation he came into in late December
The Detroit Red Wings now have a pair of 7-game win streaks under coach Todd McLellan, but what was he expecting when he came onto the job in late December?
The Detroit Red Wings are on yet another hot streak, having now put together a pair of 7-game winning streaks under new coach Todd McLellan in a span of under 20 games.
Ironically, that marks the 1st time in franchise history they've accomplished that feat. But things weren't looking as promising when McLellan arrived back in Hockeytown on December 26 after GM Steve Yzerman terminated coach Derek Lalonde.
Joining the Costa and Jansen Show with Heather on 97.1 The Ticket this morning, McLellan talked about the situation that he came into and what he expected.
Well initially coming in, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was sitting at home watching the team on tv, and you think you know the team and the players, and when you get here, you quickly figure them out - you figure out their personalities, how they react to certain situations, and how they interact with each other.
What I found is this group is really hungry and really willing to learn and work, to accept new ways and make new ideas stick. That's probably the biggest difference is their willingness to take new things on and it's been a real good group.
McLellan was asked if he believed that one, let alone two, 7-game winning streaks was a possibility considering the bleak state of affairs for the Red Wings, who were tied for last place in the Eastern Conference at the Christmas break.
To be honest, I had no idea where it was going to go. You'd like to think you do, but you don't until you get here. The win streaks has a lot to do with everyone playing well at the same time, it's the only way you win consistently. Starting with the goaltender and having good special teams performing at the same time, and a belief system that's gone up. Good for the guys, they've earned their stripes so far, but there's lots of hockey left.
| POLL |
FEVRIER 7 | 210 ANSWERS Red Wings coach Todd McLellan gets honest about situation he came into in late December Was Todd McLellan the perfect coach for the Red Wings at the perfect time? |
| Yes | 205 | 97.6 % |
| No | 5 | 2.4 % |
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