
The Detroit Red Wings missed the playoffs due to a series of disappointing performances, culminating in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
The Detroit Red Wings' playoff drought has now reached ten seasons, making it the longest active streak in the NHL.
Coach Todd McLellan acknowledged the boos from fans as a deserved response, stating it reflected the team's performance throughout the season.
The Detroit Red Wings missed the playoffs for the tenth consecutive season after a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Coach Todd McLellan acknowledged the fans' boos as deserved, reflecting the team's disappointing performance this season.
The Detroit Red Wings saw their NHL playoff hopes end in disappointment, and head coach Todd McLellan did not shy away from the reaction inside the arena.
Detroit fell 5â3 to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena. The loss officially ended their playoff expectations and stretched the franchiseâs drought to 10 straight seasons, now the longest active run in the NHL, after Buffalo qualified for the playoffs.
Fans made their frustration clear, as boos grew louder after Dawson Mercerâs empty-net goal, which sealed the result late in the third period. Even during Fan Appreciation Night, the mood turned sour as players gathered for the traditional salute.
MORE: Detroit Red Wings could follow Maple Leafs, Devils in GM changes
McLellan faced the situation directly. He said the team earned that response and called it a reflection of their season. He pointed to Detroitâs strong hockey culture and said fans expect effort and consistency every night.
âWell, this is Detroit, this is hockey town,â McLellan said. âIâve been lucky enough to be on the other side of it when they couldnât stop cheering for this team, and theyâre dying for that. They crave that. Thatâs what they want. And I donât even know if they want a Stanley Cup championship anymore. They just want a team thatâs gonna come and give them something to cheer about.
âAnd this outside noise stuff or whatever, thatâs inside noise. Those are our fans in our building, and they pay to watch us play, and we get paid well to perform for them. And theyâre fully entitled to their opinion, and we deserve their opinion. Like, thereâs no other way to sugarcoat it. That, thatâs what we earned.â
McLellanâs message was blunt and honest, with no attempt to soften the moment.
On the ice, the result capped a painful collapse. Detroit led 3â2 in the third period before conceding three unanswered goals. Earlier in the season, the team had topped the Eastern Conference standings in January but struggled after the Olympic break.
Captain Dylan Larkin accepted responsibility for the boos, but said that it was difficult to hear it.
âItâs extremely difficult,â Larkin said, who registered two points in the game. âOur fans are great, they are passionate, they care about winning. Thereâs been some great years here, and they [fans] want us back to that, and thatâs what they expect here.
âAnd to hear that itâs very difficult. Iâm as down as I could be right now.â
Detroit holds a 41-30-9 record with 91 points, but could not close the gap late in the race. Poor game management and inconsistency cost them a return to the postseason.
For McLellan and the Red Wings, the boos were not surprising. They were a clear signal of expectations still unmet in a proud hockey city.
Share this article






See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.