Among the many qualities that Todd McLellan brings to his post as coach of the Detroit Red Wings is a definitive certainty that complacency is not going to be permitted to take up residence inside his team’s psyche.
It’s been a solid road trip for the club. Four games into this five-game sojourn, Detroit is 3-1.
At 9-4 on the season, you might think that the Red Wings have every reason to feel good about themselves. However, if you are in fact one of the Red Wings, your coach has a message for you.
Think again.
Monday work. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/MaNUaXijOO
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2025
“The trip’s not over,” McLellan told reporters following Monday’s practice. “It’s like we’re putting a bow on it, and there’s nothing worse than that.
“You classify it as a successful trip to this point, but there’s a lot of teams in the league that will go 3-2 on a five-game road trip. You just become average if you just blend in.”
Measuring Stick Game For The Red Wings
We folks in the media like to talk about measuring stick games. Often it’s conjecture, a way to create a storyline on a slow news day.
In this instance, though, it isn’t. Detroit’s opponent on Tuesday is the Vegas Golden Knights. They’re a powerhouse club, a legit Stanley Cup contender.
The kind of team the Red Wings used to be when every NHL team sought to measure itself against Detroit.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2025
“I would view Vegas as one of the top teams in the league,” McLellan said. “Certainly, for years, they seem to make moves in the summer that keep them relevant.
“Mitch Marner is a huge addition to them, but prior to that, they added Thomas Hertl. They’ve got some size, they play a well-rounded game. They don’t give up much at all. So you really got to earn your offensive opportunities, and you better be alert defensively.
“In my mind, they’re one of the teams that could hoist the Cup at the end of the year.”
His players don’t dispute that notion at all.
“I’m excited that it wraps up in Vegas against a team like this,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said of the road trip. “It’s going to be a huge test.”
A big test, and a significant chance to show the hockey world who they really are.
“It’s hard to win on the road in this league,” center JT Compher said. “We have another big opportunity (on Tuesday) to keep building points on this road trip.”
And to keep building their reputation as a team that’s turned the corner.
McLellan’s message to his team is to dare to be great. Allow yourself to think big.
“We’re going to challenge the guys to come up with their best (Tuesday), and we’ll see what happens,” McLellan said.
Arriving at the rink on Tuesday, the Red Wings have a choice. They can settle for being happy just to be part of it all in the world’s fastest game. Or they can opt to dive into the deep waters and prove to everyone that they can swim with the big fish.
