Did Fired Red Wings Coach Derek Lalonde Do Enough For Another NHL Bench Boss Job?

Derek Lalonde © Instagram / nastyknucklespod

The Detroit Red Wings fired head coach Derek Lalonde on Thursday, ending his tenure after three seasons. 1 Lalonde, who replaced Jeff Blashill, led the team to a 13-17-4 record this season, culminating in his dismissal. While his first season saw some improvement, the team failed to build on that success and ultimately fell short of playoff expectations.   

Lalonde’s tenure wasn’t without its highlights. The Wings showed improvement in his second season, finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division and narrowly missing out on a playoff berth. However, a disappointing start to this season, marked by several losing streaks, ultimately sealed his fate.

This dismissal raises questions about Lalonde’s future in the NHL. His record as head coach might not be enough to land him another head coaching job immediately. Former coaches like Lane Lambert and D.J. Smith have transitioned to assistant coaching roles in the league. Given Lalonde’s previous success as an assistant coach under Jon Cooper with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a return to that role could be a viable option.

The NHL has seen a high turnover rate among coaches this year, with 15 coaching changes in 2024. While this rate is likely to slow down, Lalonde’s dismissal underscores the demanding nature of the job. In a results-oriented league, coaches are often held accountable for team performance, even when factors beyond their control, such as roster construction, may play a role.

Lalonde’s coaching career is far from over, but he may need to take a different path, potentially as an assistant coach, to return to the head coaching ranks in the NHL.

 By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer