“I watch Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews be willing to not quit on a play, but not over-pressure it,” McLellan said. “Lay it into the corner, go down and do the work, eat up another minute, go to the bench and say, ‘We’ll get them next time.’ They’re managing the game much better now.

The Detroit Red Wings didn't make the playoffs, but Todd McLellan said the team was good enough to do it, but just lacked the toughness.

After a 13-17-4 (30 points) start to the season, the Red Wings named McLellan head coach and Trent Yawney as assistant coach on Dec. 26. Although it fell short of a Stanley Cup Playoffs spot, Detroit went 26-18-4 (56 points) the rest of the way under McLellan, who believes a standard has been established that the group can build on.