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.

Steve Yzerman was asked if the Red Wings are prepared to spend $10-11 million on a player in free agency. "Absolutely," he said. "If there's a player worthy of spending whatever amount on, that has an interest of playing in Detroit,