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Todd McLellan sends a stern message to his Red Wings team ahead of facing Blue Jackets
Photo credit: NHL.com
The Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan sent a message to his team ahead of tonight's matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Todd McLellan and the Detroit Red Wings are preparing for a 10-day, six-game trip that will take them all the way to the Canadian West Coast, which starts tonight in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.
Before leaving Detroit, McLellan held a press conference in which he sent an important message to his players.
McLellan Sends A Message To His Team Ahead Of Crucial Road Trip
The Red Wings are only five points over the Florida Panthers, who are eighth in the division, and four points away from the Lightning at the top.
The next games will be crucial as the gap in points in the division is likely to grow, and the Wings want to remain in playoff contention.
Here's what he had to say to his team before leaving Detroit:
"I think it'll be good for our team to get out. We've been gone, but we really haven't been gone since we got back from California and Vegas [in early November], so we're looking forward to it. We just have to play one game at a time. I think every coach in the League would tell you that right now. We're not looking at the standings because you go from first to seventh in one night without even playing, so it really doesn't matter.
Everybody is there to service the players so that they can play their best. I think the staff here does an outstanding job. They have every tool they need and are committed to it. Our players certainly don't go without. There are zero excuses because our staff does such a good job.
We always talk about that before we leave and hope it comes to fruition. But if you suck the whole trip, then it's not a lot of fun bonding like that. There are opportunities for the players to get out, get together, have team dinners, and all that stuff that we talk about all the time."
Everybody is there to service the players so that they can play their best. I think the staff here does an outstanding job. They have every tool they need and are committed to it. Our players certainly don't go without. There are zero excuses because our staff does such a good job.
We always talk about that before we leave and hope it comes to fruition. But if you suck the whole trip, then it's not a lot of fun bonding like that. There are opportunities for the players to get out, get together, have team dinners, and all that stuff that we talk about all the time."
Starting the trip on a high note will be important for team morale and for the remainder of the trip. It all starts tonight in Columbus.
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