DETROIT \u2013 One year ago, the Detroit Red Wings were 16 points out of first place, coming off back-to-back losses to Montreal and on the verge of firing coach Derek Lalonde.<\/p>\n
Today, they\u2019re leading the Atlantic Division, coming off back-to-back victories over Washington and have a renewed confidence and swagger as coach Todd McLellan approaches his one-year anniversary on the job.<\/p>\n
The culture has changed dramatically in 12 months. <\/p>\n
It showed this past weekend with their moms in town. First, one of their most complete 60-minute efforts of the season resulted in a 5-2 win on the road. A day later they overcame a sluggish start to win 3-2 on Moritz Seider\u2019s overtime goal, with a lineup that wasn\u2019t necessarily the best they could have dressed.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe ask players to trust us as an organization, as a staff, and we have to pay that back to them, too,\u201d McLellan said. \u201cWe have to trust that they can all play or they shouldn\u2019t be here. So, when we get into this type of situation, we believed in everybody that\u2019s here. We gave everybody a chance to play in front of their moms. I know some would say, well, it\u2019s the NHL. You don\u2019t do that. Well, sometimes you do. And I think each of them will walk out of here happy. <\/p>\n \u201cSome got to play two games in front of their mom, some one. But the win and all the smiles on their faces, they\u2019ll go home tonight and have some fun. And that\u2019s way better than having one or two of them walk around and not feel like they belong. So, I think it\u2019s important. I think the culture part of it is huge. Been on many of these (dads) trips, always have extra bodies, and you find a way to get everybody in.\u201d<\/p>\n