After being fired by the Rangers, McDonnell found work with the Detroit Red Wings as an amateur scout. After eight seasons as a scout, McDonnell was promoted to Director of Amateur Scouting for the Red Wings. He won the Stanley Cup with four times with Detroit, in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008. McDonnell, along with Red Wings General manager Ken Holland, former Red Wings executive Jim Nill, and current Red Wings scout Håkan Andersson have been partially credited with the success of the Detroit Red Wings.