Former NHL defenseman P.K. Subban didn’t mince words following the Detroit Red Wings’ 6–3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night. The Norris Trophy winner and current TNT analyst took to X (formerly Twitter), posting a blunt five-word critique alongside a clip of Thomas Hertl completing his hat trick against a disorganized Red Wings defense: “Can’t be soft on D.”
In the video Subban shared, he didn’t just call out the team’s defensive effort—he specifically singled out defenseman Justin Holl, as well as the Red Wings front office. “Justin Holl has been soft since he’s been in the league,” Subban said. “That’s on [Red Wings GM] Steve Yzerman for signing him. He was soft in Toronto, soft still.”
Subban’s pointed comments added fuel to ongoing criticism of Holl’s performance this season and have sparked more questions about Detroit’s defensive struggles and Yzerman’s roster decisions.
The Red Wings signed defenseman Justin Holl, 33, to a three-year, $10.2 million contract in July 2023. So far this season, Holl has played in 61 games, tallying just five points (one goal, four assists) with a minus-7 rating. He’s also recorded 62 blocked shots and 29 hits. P.K. Subban’s sharp criticism of Holl—and Detroit’s defense overall—comes at a time when the Red Wings are sliding out of playoff contention.
After holding a wild-card spot earlier in the season, Detroit has now dropped 10 of its last 14 games since the 4 Nations Face-Off break. The team hasn’t won back-to-back games in nearly a month, with their last consecutive victories coming on February 23 and 25. March has been especially brutal, with the Red Wings posting a 2-8-0 record so far.
Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan echoed some of the same concerns after Saturday’s loss to Vegas. “We talk about wanting to be in the playoffs, but we’re not sure we always want to be in shooting lanes,” McLellan said. “We’re not sure we want to do some things.”
Detroit will look to get back on track Monday night when they take on the Utah Hockey Club. The Red Wings currently hold a 32-31-6 record with 70 points, trailing the Montreal Canadiens by five points for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
