You would think the knowledge that you’re playing for a Detroit Red Wings team that’s gone nine years without a playoff appearance would be enough to motivate veteran players to hustle to keep their jobs.
Evidently, in some instances, that hasn’t been the case during the NHL preseason. At least that’s how coach Todd McLellan is viewing the situation.
“Just like you have to scrap to get into the league, you got to scrap to stay in the league,” McLellan said on the team’s website. “And there’s always somebody pushing. And I’m not sure that sometimes the veteran players always understand that.”
McLellan’s disappointment with his team’s lack of competitiveness in Monday’s 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins was outlined by the coach in the post-game. He didn’t pull any punches in emphasizing his unhappiness.
Tuesday morning, the situation was addressed.
Tuesday night lineup @ Chicago. ⤵️
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“Yeah, that type of thing was done pre-practice,” McLellan said. “So those were just individual meetings that kind of laid it out for some guys.
“They may need a roadmap to understand where they stand right now, this far into camp.”
For some, the news may have been about how far off course they have veered.
“There’s a group of players that are going to play in Chicago tonight,” McLellan said. “For some … it could be their last opportunity.
“And that group, I hope, I believe they can go and perform really well tonight and make it hard on us.”
Red Wings Third Defense Pairing Still Wide Open
One area that McLellan specifically addressed was the club’s defense. There are eight rearguards in camp with significant NHL experience.
McLellan is happy with the play of four of them. The other four, not so much.
As the Wings play in Chicago tonight, Moritz Seider and Ben Chiarot aren’t playing. Simon Edvinsson, recovering from injury, is also out.
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The coach made it clear that this trio needn’t worry about their jobs. And he added a name to the safe list.
“I think Albert’s (Johansson) had a real good camp,” McLellan said. “He is playing (Tuesday), but after that, it’s wide open.
Justin Holl and Jacob Bernard Docker are both in the lineup at Chicago.
Erik Gustafsson and Travis Hamonic are the other veteran defenders.
Gustafsson played last night against Pittsburgh.
After last season, McLellan talked about how the team missed Gustafsson when he was lost to a late-season injury.
“We missed his legs, we missed his pace,” McLellan said. “His mind was real good.”
Gustafsson has returned, but that level of performance has not.
“I don’t think Gus has got back to that point yet,” McLellan said. “He’d likely agree with me.
“So like some others in our camp, he’ll have to find it quickly.”
Are Red Wings Vets Taking Roles For Granted?
Is it possible that there’s a sense of entitlement among players on a team that continually finishes below sea level when it comes to making the playoffs?
Maybe so.
“Sometimes you’re a player that’s maybe played in the league for 10, 11, 12 years,” McLellan said. “You’re still approaching it like you’re 1A and 1B.
“Maybe you’re not anymore, and you got to start to fight for your job all over. Again, I’m not talking about Gus. I’m talking about players as a whole.
“You better know where you are on your journey.”