{"id":544641,"date":"2026-04-07T00:45:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T00:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/544641\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T00:45:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T00:45:46","slug":"red-wings-coach-questions-teams-mental-resilience-dhn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/544641\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings Coach Questions Team’s Mental Resilience \/ DHN"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following Sunday\u2019s 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild<\/a>, Detroit<\/a> Red Wings forward Andrew Copp<\/a> was discussing how the outside noise from fans and media may be impacting the team as it struggles to make the NHL playoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo not let it creep in this day and age is pretty hard,\u201d Copp said. \u201cSo yeah, we gotta channel. We gotta channel some fun. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe gotta channel some jam.\u201d<\/p>\n

When this scenario was brought up to Red Wings coach Todd McLellan<\/a>, his reaction was forthright and to the point.<\/p>\n

He says it\u2019s nothing but a bunch of poppycock.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, outside noise, if we\u2019re reading and buying into all of that, then shame on us,\u201d McLellan said, clearly agitated by the mere suggestion that it might be an issue for his players. <\/p>\n

Then McLellan really cut to the chase.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe that\u2019s part of our mental resilience,\u201d McLellan said. \u201cLike we can\u2019t worry about what goes on out there. We gotta worry about what goes on in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red Wings Coach Seeks To Rally His Squad<\/p>\n

With his team trailing 4-1 after 40 minutes on Sunday, McLellan addressed this exact issue with his club.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a little talk between the second and third, and that was made quite clear to them,\u201d McLellan said. \u201cAnd then we come out and respond.\u201d<\/p>\n

Detroit would rally to tie the game, ultimately losing 5-4 on a late Minnesota power-play goal.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe consistency, we\u2019re like a wave,\u201d McLellan said. \u201cWe crest and then crash, crest and then crash. And it has to change.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is concerning me \u2013 most important games of the season and the players still need the coaches to get their heads in gear??? “We’ve tried many different ways” \u2013 they really dont care this much????? pic.twitter.com\/XKW7W1oBRN<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 luce\u2606\u2075\u00b3 is celebrating mo seider birthday (@seiderstories) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Fresh off yet another March collapse, Detroit\u2019s playoff hopes are fading like an overwashed pair of blue jeans. The Red Wings own a .303 points percentage since the March 6 NHL trade deadline. In the entire 32-team NHL, only the Seattle Kraken (.286) and Vancouver Canucks (.250) are worse.<\/p>\n

Whether this Red Wings team is mentally soft no longer seems to be in question. It appears to be a fact.<\/p>\n

That reality must be galling to members of the Red Wings\u2019 front office, such as GM Steve Yzerman<\/a> and assistant GM Kris Draper. Both persevered through significant injuries to keep playing and winning when it mattered. <\/p>\n

They were leaders on multiple Red Wings Stanley Cup championship squads.<\/p>\n

Last week, former Red Wings forward Darren McCarty suggested that a team must learn to hate losing even more than it enjoys winning. <\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Red Wings don\u2019t display that level of hate for losing. In fact, they seem far too comfortable living with it. <\/p>\n