McLellan's emphasis on aggressive hockey suits DeBrincat (his points-per-game average jumped from .74 to .93 after the coaching change at Christmas), and in turn, DeBrincat's relentlessness suits McLellan.

The Red Wings collapsed in March last season when they challenged for a postseason berth. They turned in a repeat performance in 2024-25. They lost 10 of their 14 games in March to drop from the East's top Wild Card team to an afterthought in the race.

The Detroit Red Wings put on an entertaining performance in their home finale, billed as fan appreciation night at Little Caesars Arena. They scored, they hustled, they celebrated a future Hockey Hall of Famer and showed they heeded their coach when he urged them to play for their reputations even as the playoffs are no longer a possibility.