McLELLAN FRUSTRATED, WINGS WASTE CHANCES – Winged Wheel Podcast – Mar. 29th, 2026

The Hockeytown rollercoaster rolls on. This Detroit Red Wings podcast breaks down two completely different performances in back-to-back games, as game recaps & analysis covers the stunning win over Buffalo and the crushing loss to Philadelphia for Steve Yzerman’s team..

(00:00) – Intro & Delirium
Trying to make sense of the Detroit Red Wings and their performances in a tight playoff race.

(04:05) – Red Wings vs. Sabres Game Recap
Red Wings score three first period goals against one of the league’s hottest teams, including Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond power play strikes. John Gibson stacks the pads, and Patrick Kane shushes his hometown crowd.

(14:05) – Red Wings vs. Philadelphia Flyers Game Recap – Disaster
Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson & Co. fall short in a frustrating home loss that perfectly encapsulates this team’s inconsistency, including a late game flurry of goals from Appleton, DeBrincat, and Raymond.

(27:25) – What’s Wrong With Detroit?
Dissecting why the Detroit Red Wings don’t show up to big games so often. Is this on Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat, or is it more on the lack of depth?

(40:55) – Playoff Race Reality Check
Where the Wings stand after splitting two crucial games, and how many points they realistically need down the stretch. 

(49:05) – Prospects Update – Augustine, Plante, Johansson
Grand Rapids Griffins getting reinforcements as Anton Johansson joins the club. Also, ELC watch for Trey Augustine, and where Max Plante may play next season.

(54:55) – Around the NHL – Torts is Back!
John Tortorella in for Bruce Cassidy in Vegas as the Golden Knights make a late season chance – will this work for Mitch Marner & Co.?

(1:04:45) – Overtime Mailbag
Your questions on the rebuild, whether Hockeytown has hope, and what Steve Yzerman should do this summer.

This episode is brought to you by Hims. Visit hims.com/wingedwheel for your personalized hair loss treatment options.

Support the show: Patreon.com/WingedWheelPodcast

Head over to wingedwheelpodcast.com to find all the ways to listen, how to support the show, and so much more!

—–

Thank you for making us the biggest Detroit Red Wings podcast on the air! #RedWings #LGRW

Website: https://www.wingedwheelpodcast.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wingedwheelpodcast

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WingedWheelPod (Check out the bio to follow the hosts!)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wingedwheelpodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingedwheelpodcast

Listen on…

Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/winged-wheel-podcast/id969768868

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1dpbmdlZFdoZWVsUG9kY2FzdA%3D%3D

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Wp4fEi1EO741UlxPMGtaS

SoundCloud: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Wp4fEi1EO741UlxPMGtaS

RSS Feed: http://wingedwheelpodcast.libsyn.com/rss

45 comments
  1. Am I the only one who, when Evan said, "most points in a season by a German defenseman," did a quick Google search to look up Uwe Krupp's career statistics to confirm? 😅

  2. McLellan I don't think has a long shelf life with how much he has to try to get this team up to play. They are gonna tune out, if they haven't already.

  3. I don't think its rocket science. We hoped that the lack of a premier offensive talent from the draft and Steve's poor signings wouldn't hurt us and we could still rebuild in spite of it all. Our hope wasn't enough. This roster stinks (except for Seider and Cat).

  4. Bench Appleton, get him out of here. He has been such a liability lately. Play Talbot the next couple games, the fact that put him in after getting throttled was terrible. Should have just started him to begin with.

  5. Might be time to trade Larkin, use that to get picks and jump start a new rebuild ala Matt Stafford, the team needs talent and they can’t get it by being mid for the next five or six years as they seem to be.

    Be legitimate ass for two years, get a Top 3 pick on a non “200ft forward” that can’t score or do anything else (Kasper and Danielson), and build the core around Seider and Raymond.

    Really just tired of this middling ass team, been feeling that way for a while now.

  6. And now we have to watch the young Sabres, Habs, Blue Jackets, Bruins, and possibly Sens in the playoffs while we miss once again. So disappointing man

  7. I grew up a travel hockey kid in the 80's/90's in metro Detroit. HUNDREDS of games at The Joe. I'm 47 now. Took my Wife to the Ottawa game on 3/24. First time inside LCA. First Wings game since game 7 in 2009. nearly 20 years. I left with such a bad taste from how soft the team is, how lame the crowd was, how impersonal the arena is. It just has nothing to do with the sport or team I used to love. Hockey in Detroit is embarrassing. I won't be back for another 20. I can't believe how much awfulness Ken & Mick are able to hide on the broadcasts. Gen Z for the L.

  8. I love Larkin but if we don't get significantly better within a year we may have to trade him. He's so much better when he plays for Team USA and it sometimes makes me think he has given up on the Red wings.

    Remember in 2023 when we got Cat, Kane, Ghost and a few others? Team looked rejuvenated and was fun to watch at the start of the season. We need a similar injection this summer. At the very least get rid of Ras, Compher & maybe Appleton, only bring back Kane if he's on the 3rd line, and if anyone can be traded for a Quinn Hughes level player or a high-end center they need to do it. Cat, Raymond and Seider are the only untouchables at this point.

  9. I blame Larkin the most. He disappears 5 on 5. His attitude after last year was concerning as well. Honestly I would consider trading him and put Kasper or Danielson in there next year if all else fails and you can’t get anyone better back. Also, honestly I expect more production out of Raymond. I know he’s 24 but he should be well above a PPG and be above 30 goals at this point by now. He doesn’t take over games.

  10. That i see multiple comments below saying "Kane has to go, CAN'T be back next year" or "Kane could be brought back but he'd have to be 3rd or 4th line" just shows how crazy this fanbase has been made towards this player by propaganda podcasts like yours trash talking him for 3 years, esp regarding his 5v5 play.

    Kane this year has his best 5v5 analytics since the Hawks dynasty. and has helped Cat have a career year analytically and individually. and like every March has quietly shown up in the key stretch and taken over and produced majorly.

    He has literally 5x as many 5v5 points, goals, assists as Larkin over the team's last 42 games (36 GP for Kane, 35 for Larkin). He's got team-best 5v5 on-ice analytics since the start of December, 4 months. Better than Seider, better than Cat.

  11. Olivier got injured for Columbus and now that team is done. Pittsburgh with no Crosby or Malkin and Ottawa will start to drop. Philly is the new problem

  12. Yzerman needs to stop sitting on Prospects he stockpiles. Start figuring out which are expendable, and which to keep and bring up. Same with Roster players. Team needs a SERIOUS shake up. I can't see Yzerman on this team, or some of the coaching lasting another year if they miss the playoffs AGAIN.

  13. What I don't understand is why SY brings in a player like Peron, who then plays on the 4th line, a position one of our young players could also play!

    We've also known for years that some players don't fulfill their contracts (Copp & Kompher).

    Appelton draws penalties far too often, his passing is poor; it's hard for me to say anything positive about him. We should have kept Söderlom or promoted one of the young players.

    Rasmusen is often criticized, but he's a good box-play player, so I understand why he's still in Detroit.

    Charot is an okay defender, but not viable in a first or second pairing.

    If SY doesn't bring a top player to Detroit, let the young players play. It can't get any worse!

    What was positive about the season?

    In the NHL: Johansson, Finnie, JBD, and Shine

    The future in the NHL/AHL: MBN, Lombardi, Leonard, Genborg, Bear, Kiiskinen, Johansson, Augustine, Cossa, Postava, NDN, Plante, and ASP

    Mazur, Buium, and Danielson should be traded (while they still have trade value); they no longer meet the expected standard.

  14. I’m reminded of Jim MacKay (former coach of the Tampa Bay Bucs in the early ‘80’s). Some funny interviews.

    How do you feel about the execution of the offense?

    I’d support it.

  15. Despite all the ups and downs this month, a bounce back win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday would result in a .500 March at 14 points in 14 games (6-6-2). In any other year that record would be considered a good month that keeps them in a playoff spot and puts them on track to make the playoffs semi-comfortably (3-9-2 in March 2024 and 4-10-0 in March 2025).

  16. Same Ole redwings yall talk about u these players like they superstars. But its a team full of 3rd-4th liners. Still cant complete a consistent season. Its not the players its their game their mojo. Their strategy. The team needs a real captain.

  17. Collectively this is the lowest hockey IQ team I've ever seen assembled. 3 years in a row. Clearly NOT playoff ready. Hurry up end the season and reserve your tee times. F#@k!

  18. I like MCClellan but he’s also accountable we often mention guys who haven’t scored in months but yet they’re in the lineup every night. Rasmussen, Appleton and Compher should never play another shift in Detroit. They do nothing positive and take away ice time from younger players who should be in those roles.

  19. Appleton, Rasmussen, Compher. Copp, Jvr. 3/5 of these players need to be replaced. To some extent, Perron and Shine need to have their rolls solidified. Kasper has one more 1/2 season to figure it out, if not trade him. Cossa should be traded for a high value pick or player. Something like a 1st and Cossa for a top 6 c.

  20. When the wings are dragged into a physical game, they thrive.
    The issue is they never initiate that style (the one exception was the last habs game and we kicked their ass). That is the most infuriating part of this team

  21. We desperatly need a spark to this team, this is how i would like to play next game:

    Cat-Larkin-Raymond
    (Cat & Ray showed great chemistry before & Larks need them both to get himself going)
    Mazur-Copp-Kane
    (Put Mazur here if you are gonna give him a real opportunity, he is a hard worker and right shot that Kane could feed… The 5 on 5 production between Cat & Kane have not been great for a while now, they can still have each others as "playmates" on the PP)
    Finnie-Kasper-MBN/Tralmaks
    (I miss a big physical body on this line next to the speedy Fin & Kasp. Now that we burned 1st year of MBN ELC, why not play him?? If not, give Tralmaks a shot already he been on fire in GR lately with his shoot first mentality and good skating, he for sure would work on a 3rd line at NHL level)
    JVR-Shine-Perron
    (These are basically a line i would not play much at all 5 on 5. Shine can come in when and if we need a spark/fight. JVR and Perron are both to slow at the pace today needed for this team to be effective 5 on 5, they both can be effective in less mins and right usage on the PP as retrive/board battle (Perron) and net front (JVR).

    Scratch "the jerseys" Appleton & Compher, i don't want to see them the rest of the season. Rasmussen can stay on LtIR rest of his career for all i care, been a major disappointment for two straight years now, basically ever since he got his 4 year contract extension, go figure…

    Lastly I might add as a sidenote (since i already went into depth on this on diffrent post) that i would re-insert ASP over JBD on that 3rd pair, since we are SCREAMING for scoring for a long while now, and he would def provide more offensive push from the back end (he got 2 goals and a helper since he returned to GR past 3 games.) I don't LOVE the Faulk addition so far but hey we have nobody else to play there… Maybe they should try Chiarot with Seider and see if Edvinsson with Faulk would spark something, since Simon has not played up to his standard since he returned from injury… Anyways, just some thoughts… Gattu do SOMETHING before everything is totally flushed away, this "afraid to let in goal/lose" – coaching in how we run out our lines are clearly not (chocking, right?) working…

Leave a Reply