Todd McLellan’s Emotional Return as Red Wings Face the Kings
It was a night filled with nostalgia and quiet reflection in Los Angeles as Todd McLellan returned to the city he once called home — but this time, he was standing behind the opposing bench. The Detroit Red Wings took on the Los Angeles Kings, marking McLellan’s first game back in L.A. since being dismissed as head coach in early 2024. And for those who’ve followed his career, it was more than just another matchup on the schedule.
McLellan knows exactly what it’s like to be in Jim Hiller’s shoes — the current Kings coach who once served under him as an assistant. The pressure to deliver postseason success in Los Angeles is heavy, and McLellan understands that all too well. During his five-year tenure with the Kings, he brought them back to playoff relevance, making the postseason in both 2022 and 2023. But each run ended the same way — first-round exits at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.
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“Beating the Oilers in a seven-game series is no easy task,” McLellan admitted when speaking to The Athletic before Thursday’s game. “They’re incredible players. Sometimes it’s luck, sometimes it’s calls, sometimes it’s injuries. But it’s doable — Florida’s proven that.”
Now leading the Red Wings, McLellan’s focus has shifted entirely. After being hired by Detroit GM Steve Yzerman late last year, he’s brought renewed energy to the organization. Under his guidance, the Wings finished the 2024–25 campaign with a strong 26–18–4 record and have started this season 7–3–0, eager to end a nine-year playoff drought. His message remains simple: get in, and then see where it goes.
Thursday’s matchup against the Kings, however, wasn’t just about the scoreboard. It was about revisiting a chapter filled with hard lessons, big wins, and a lot of personal growth. Back at the team’s practice facility in El Segundo, McLellan was surrounded by familiar faces — from security staff to trainers — people who had been part of his everyday routine. “It’s not really the rink or the building that gets you,” he said. “It’s the people.”
Even after being fired following a rough January stretch that derailed a promising 20-7-4 start, McLellan has no bitterness. He still maintains a friendly relationship with former GM Rob Blake and current coach Jim Hiller. “That’s how fast the game can turn,” he reflected. “One minute you’re setting records, the next it’s all falling apart. But that’s hockey. I’ve got zero regrets.”
As the puck dropped in Los Angeles, the Red Wings’ young core — led by Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and new face Emmitt Finnie — took the ice with purpose. Across from them, veterans like Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty were determined to defend home ice.
In the end, no matter the result, this night was a reminder of how small the hockey world can be — where rivalries blur into respect, and a return to old grounds feels more like coming home than coming back.
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