McLellan and his right-hand man, former Kings and Ducks assistant Trent Yawney, have put their imprint on the winged wheel in short order. “Our structure in all three zones (has improved), I feel like we’re just supporting the puck better,” Talbot told The Detroit News.

One word that Todd McLellan has returned to more than a few times in his now month-long tenure Detroit is "directness," expressing a desire for his Red Wings to play a "direct" game. On the surface it sounds simple, but I caught up with Christian Fischer about how that directness actually shows up and why it's been so beneficial.

But McLellan and his assistant Trent Yawney have given this team a pulse. The mood around the team is upbeat and confident. A push toward the playoffs is still very much on the ra