Red Wings Coach Calls Out Team After Playoff Elimination

Todd McLellan delivers blunt assessment, emphasizes accountability and need for improvement after Detroit's season ends with loss to Devils.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 2:35am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in red, white, and blue hues, depicting a hockey game or match broken down into sharp, overlapping planes, representing the Red Wings' struggles this season.A cubist interpretation of the Red Wings' season-ending loss, capturing the team's defensive breakdowns and inability to close out close games.Today in Detroit

After the Detroit Red Wings were officially eliminated from playoff contention following a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, head coach Todd McLellan did not hold back in his assessment of the team's performance. McLellan took responsibility for the Red Wings' struggles, acknowledging that the coaching staff failed to meet their preseason goals of being harder to play against, building resilience and mental toughness, and improving game management, especially after the Olympic break. He pointed to critical defensive breakdowns and an inability to close out close games as key factors in the team's collapse down the stretch.

Why it matters

The Red Wings' failure to make the playoffs for the 10th straight season has heightened the pressure and frustration within the organization and among the team's passionate fan base in Detroit. McLellan's blunt comments reflect the urgency to address the team's shortcomings and make significant improvements in order to end the franchise's playoff drought and restore the Red Wings to their former status as a perennial contender.

The details

In the loss to the Devils, McLellan highlighted two nearly identical defensive breakdowns that led to costly goals, saying the team could not afford those types of mistakes in a close, must-win game. He acknowledged that the Red Wings had control of their playoff position for much of the season, making the late-season collapse even more difficult to accept. McLellan pointed to a combination of competitiveness issues and mental mistakes as the root causes, noting that the team was unable to finish close games the way they had earlier in the year.

  • The Red Wings' season-ending loss to the Devils occurred on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • The Red Wings had been in playoff position for long stretches of the season prior to their collapse after the Olympic break.

The players

Todd McLellan

The head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, who has been tasked with turning the team around and ending their 10-year playoff drought.

New Jersey Devils

The NHL team that defeated the Red Wings 5-3 in the game that officially eliminated Detroit from playoff contention.

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What they’re saying

“The first and fourth goals were identical. We had a defenseman pinch and did not have proper coverage. They score on a two-on-one rush. That is a critical part of the game plan. You cannot give those up.”

— Todd McLellan, Head Coach, Detroit Red Wings

“At training camp, we had three goals. Be harder to play against, build resilience and mental toughness, and improve game management. We made progress, but since the Olympic break, we did not have enough of that and it cost us. That starts with me and the coaching staff.”

— Todd McLellan, Head Coach, Detroit Red Wings

“Early in the year, we were winning those tight one goal games. Down the stretch, we did not. We gave games away like we did today.”

— Todd McLellan, Head Coach, Detroit Red Wings

“Teams are going to make mistakes. They are going to give one up. But not two, and especially not with four minutes left in a game where we need the points.”

— Todd McLellan, Head Coach, Detroit Red Wings

“This is Hockeytown. They want something to cheer about. That is not outside noise. That is inside noise. They pay to watch us and they are entitled to their opinion. We earned that.”

— Todd McLellan, Head Coach, Detroit Red Wings

What’s next

McLellan acknowledged that the Red Wings' failure to make the playoffs for a 10th straight season has heightened the pressure and frustration within the organization. He said the team must now focus on accountability and making the necessary improvements to end the playoff drought and restore the Red Wings to their former status as a perennial contender.

The takeaway

Todd McLellan's blunt assessment of the Red Wings' season-ending loss to the Devils highlights the team's ongoing struggles and the urgency to address their defensive lapses, mental toughness, and game management issues. His willingness to take responsibility as the head coach signals a recognition that significant changes are needed to turn the franchise around and satisfy the passionate Detroit fan base.