Detroit Red Wings’ Trust In The Young Talent Fuelled Their Revival

The Detroit Red Wings were the picture of consistency for millennial hockey fans worldwide.

They made the playoffs for 25-straight seasons from 1990-91 through to 2015-16. They won the Stanley Cup in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008 during that run, and they were legitimate contenders for the bulk of that quarter-century run.

Since that streak ended, the team hasn’t found their way back into the post-season, and they have struggled as a mushy middle team.

The beginning of this season looked no different. Now, it could be, as the Red Wings are in a wild-card spot and control their destiny in the playoff race. They likely wouldn’t be in this position had they not hired Todd McLellan as their coach on Dec. 26. His lineup decisions and Lucas Raymond approaching elite status have helped the squad pull off two massive win streaks and navigate the busy wild-card race.

They’ve amassed an intriguing group of young talent in Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond and Simon Edvinsson to help surround captain Dylan Larkin and other veterans, such as Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat.

But when McLellan was hired, the Red Wings were tied for last in the Eastern Conference with just their game in hand keeping them ahead of the lowly Buffalo Sabres. They’re now in the second wild-card spot, just one point back of the Ottawa Senators with a game in hand.

Perhaps it was McLellan’s magic words at practice a day after losing his first game 5-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“Play f—-n’ hockey. You’ve done it your whole lives,” he reportedly said.

Detroit is the hottest team in the NHL since that wake-up call, going 15-4-1. The .775 points percentage is a bit unrealistic to maintain for another two months, but key moves set them up to remain competitive.

That includes elevating 20-year-old rookie Marco Kasper to the top line.

Although Kasper’s plan in the long term is to play center, giving him the chance to play against opposing top players has been great for his development. He is seeing tougher defensive matchups and has been an excellent complement to Larkin and Raymond offensively as well.

Kasper is a fairly simple, north-south player who may lack a bit of dynamism, but he is a reliable and feisty forechecker. He isn’t shy about doing the dirty work that allows his dynamic linemates the opportunities to play with the puck and make the kind of magic that has driven this line’s success.

McLellan also separated the top defense pair of Seider and Edvinsson. They faced the toughest competition of any pair in the NHL because Detroit was being caved in whenever they weren’t on the ice.

McLellan now leans on both to run the show on separate pairs.

The new top pair of Seider and veteran Ben Chiarot have looked better than they have in the past. Seider continues to showcase himself as a No. 1 defender, while Chiarot has settled into playing a defensive role knowing his partner can more than handle his own.

Asking Edvinsson to drive play on his own pair was a bold move. Although he’s not technically a rookie, this is his first full NHL season. He’s adapted to the pace of play incredibly well and looks like a very solid defender and capable puck-mover.

His new partner, rookie Albert Johansson, was inconsistently in the lineup before the coaching change and only averaged about 13 minutes when he did take the ice. After being a healthy scratch in his first four games with McLellan, Johansson has become an integral part of the team’s top four. His defensive-minded game and penchant for making the safe play have given the Wings a capable partner for Edvinsson despite the pair’s youth. Johansson’s play has earned him a jump in ice time, averaging about 18:30 per game.

Other youngsters are getting bigger roles and better results under McLellan as well.

Jonatan Berggren’s ice time has increased by nearly two minutes, and he has collected 10 points since McLellan took over. Elmer Soderblom is back in the lineup after a 21-game NHL stint last year, and he’s looked as consistently effective in a bottom-six role as he has in his pro career. He has five points in nine games while averaging 12:45 in ice time.

Then there’s Raymond, who has taken another step after last season’s breakout. He’s gone from making plays in big moments to dictating play almost every time he’s on the ice. He picks apart his opponents at their seams and elevates those around him, which has been a welcome sight.

The Red Wings had no luck in the draft lottery in the thick of their rebuild, but finding Raymond in 2020 has been a godsend. He could eclipse the 90-point mark this season, placing him among the NHL’s elite. His 26 points since the coaching change is seventh in the NHL over that time frame, more than players like Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel.

Raymond and Larkin are at the 4 Nations Face-Off representing Sweden and the USA, respectively, but the rest of the squad gets a well-earned break. They can rest up for a very important stretch run. Coming out of the break and keeping their foot on the gas will be integral in keeping the Wings in the playoff driver’s seat.

McLellan has this team playing their best hockey in years. The trust in youth and reliance on skill will serve them well in the long term, and it should be beneficial in the short term as well. The coaching change was the first move in a series of moves that has helped drive the Red Wings up the standings. They’re set up for success and their energy and attitude on and off the ice have shown exactly that.

Related: Which Of The Detroit Red Wings Or New York Rangers Look More Like A Playoff Team Right Now?

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum.