Before dispersing for the offseason, the Detroit Red Wings players took part in media sessions at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday morning, discussing their 2024-25 season. The team concluded the season with a 39-35-8 record, placing sixth in the Atlantic Division, just shy of the Eastern Conference’s second Wild-Card spot by five points.
Lucas Raymond, leading the team with 80 points and 53 assists, spoke about the frustration of missing out on postseason games. Raymond said, “You grow up playing hockey and you play to win stuff…It’s not fun at all. I think I speak for everyone when I say that.”
Following an in-season coaching change, Todd McLellan stepped in as head coach and Trent Yawney as assistant coach in late December. Under their guidance, the Red Wings slightly improved their performance, equating to a 96-point pace if extended over a full season.
Reflecting on their near miss, forward Alex DeBrincat, who netted a club-high 39 goals, commented on the season’s disappointments, saying, “Overall, a lot of things to learn from this year and just come back next year ready to go.”
The team’s penalty kill was highlighted as a concern, finishing last in the NHL at 70.1 percent, with Moritz Seider noting, “We didn’t really get beat. We just got beat by ourselves.” Consistency was identified as another key area for improvement by goalie Cam Talbot.
Despite the setbacks, positives emerged, such as Detroit’s fourth-ranked power play, individual player developments, and team cohesion through challenges. Patrick Kane praised the team’s unity and foundation, stating, “I think it really is a good core and foundation that’s in there that’s leading us.”
Andrew Copp spoke highly of McLellan’s leadership qualities, expressing confidence in the coach’s ability to propel the team forward. He observed McLellan’s empowering approach, saying he “had a really nice presence to him in terms of getting us going and holding us accountable.”
Captain Dylan Larkin expressed optimism about McLellan’s impact, looking ahead to the upcoming training camp, “Todd is going to really help turn this thing around here.”
