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Red Wings Coach Todd McLellan makes major admission after dropping 1st game back behind Detroit's bench

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Jack Sutherland
December 27, 2024  (11:02 PM)
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It was not the debut that Detroit Red Wings head Coach Todd McLellan wanted in his first game back with the organization, as his team lost 5-2 to the Maple Leafs.

New Detroit Red Wings head Coach Todd McLellan will have to wait another night to secure his 1st win since being named the official successor to Derek Lalonde.

McLellan and the Red Wings were defeated by the overwhelming talent and depth of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who won 5-2 thanks in large part to the 3rd career hat trick of Mitch Marner.

Additionally, a defensive breakdown in the dying seconds of the 2nd period allowed the Leafs to tack their 5th goal of the night, just barely beating the buzzer.

Lucas Raymond (PPG) and Simon Edvinsson scored in the 3rd period for Detroit to make the final score somewhat less frustrating.

But speaking of frustration, Red wings fans once again let their team have it with a heavy chorus of booing late in the 2nd period. Unfortunately, Detroit is now locked in a last-place tie in the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division with the Buffalo Sabres, who had just lost 13 straight.

McLellan, speaking in his 1st postgame press conference as Red Wings head coach,

It's really not about how I feel, it's about how the players feel and what they thought about the night as a whole.

For Trent and I to get our feet wet with the group and figure out how they react in certain situations, their emotional level - seeing the team play at a certain pace, when you're not on the bench you forget how fast it really is.

When you begin a season as a coach, even if you've been with them for a long time, you get the exhibition season - little scrambly, a little slower. The game for me is moving fast, but that's because I'm rusty as rusty could be.

Overall, from a coaching perspective, it was exciting to be back here again, but we'v got work to do. I think that's fairly evident. The game allows us a road map now, and we'll go to begin with tomorrow in practice.

It's evident, you don't need to be a hockey expert to see that.

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Red Wings Coach Todd McLellan makes major admission after dropping 1st game back behind Detroit's bench

Will the Red Wings earn a win in Todd McLelland's 2nd game behind the bench on Sunday?

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