If you want to understand the difference between the Detroit Red Wings and a capable hockey team, just look at the results from the last two games played by the Nashville Predators.

Monday, the Predators, bottom dwellers in the NHL standings, were absolutely crushed 8-3 by the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Coming to Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, Nashville outscored Detroit 5-1 in the third period to skate away with a 6-3 victory.

Afterward, Red Wings coach Todd McLellan wore the look of someone discovering that the new car they took possession of about a year ago was, in fact, a lemon.

ohhhh boy the red wings curse has started early this year 😭

— bex (razor’s version) 🇵🇱〽️ (@detrazor) November 27, 2025

“Until this team figures out that they have to value checking and defensive play, I’ll keep telling you the same things, and lo and behold, here I am again. So back to the drawing board again (at practice on Thursday).”

McLellan’s demeanor was a mix of frustration and determination. He continues to hammer into his team the lessons they need to learn to become a better hockey team. And they continue to absorb, well, none of it.

Red Wings Are Slow Learners

Back in your school days, you’ll remember the name they were giving to the students who got left back. The ones who couldn’t grasp the concept.

They were slow learners. Often, sending those students for remedial learning was the only option available for helping them to catch up to the group.

That’s the type of students that McLellan appears to have in the Detroit dressing room.

“Every time we get something, and we grab onto it, we give something else back,” McLellan said. “It’s not a sign of a good team.

“Good teams hold their lessons, and they build off of them.”

My dearest Red Wings….#LGRW pic.twitter.com/akb7r1njdL

— Jigawatt McFly (@JigawattMcFly) November 27, 2025

News flash: the Red Wings are not a good team. At 13-10-1, they are now 17th overall in the NHL. That’s mediocrity at best.

More than 30% of the way through the NHL schedule, McLellan is finding himself the skipper of a ship that is taking on water all over the hull.

“We (the coaching staff) were talking in the back room,” McLellan said. “A lot of times when you play, you get a feel for where you need to take practice the next day or your meeting or what you’re going to look for, because there’s some patterns that appear.

“But, you know, where do we as a staff take this? It’s all over the map.

“We can’t get everything done in one day.”