Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde Reportedly on the Hot Seat
There could soon be a change behind the bench for the Detroit Red Wings.
Amidst another mediocre season, the Red Wings – who enter Friday’s contest against the New Jersey Devils sixth in the Atlantic Division – could opt for a mid-season coaching change, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported earlier this week on ‘Insider Trading’ – something they haven’t done since 1986.
Dreger noted the club’s current three-game homestand as a potential do-or-die stretch that may determine head coach Derek Lalonde’s fate. The 52-year-old bench boss is in the final year of his original three-year contract that he signed prior to the 2022-23 campaign.
In three seasons under Lalonde, Detroit has missed the playoffs each year – continuing a drought that began in 2017 – and hasn’t finished higher than fifth in the Atlantic. Overall, he owns a winning record of 86-79-21 with the franchise since his arrival.
The Red Wings kicked off their crucial homestand on a positive note Wednesday night, securing a 2-1 overtime victory against the Calgary Flames. That was quickly dampened by a 5-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Friday however.
Historically, general manager Steve Yzerman has acted patiently with his head coaches, typically avoiding any in-season changes. But in a year where the Red Wings were expected to take a step forward, he may not be able to apply the same level of patience this time.
Once Detroit’s current homestand concludes, three of the club’s next four contests will come against Atlantic Division foes – the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres, two of which sit ahead of them in the standings.
If Lalonde is ultimately fired, one potential replacement Yzerman could consider is three-time Stanley Cup champion Joel Quenneville, according to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski.
The NHL reinstated the former Chicago Blackhawks head coach in July after previously banning him – along with two other executives, including former GM Stan Bowman, who’s since been hired by the Edmonton Oilers – following an independent investigation into a 2010 sexual assault case.
Beyond Quenneville, Wyshynski named Bob Boughner – one of Lalonde’s associate coaches – as another possibility if the Red Wings opt for an internal replacement. Either way, the pressure is certainly intensifying around the Motor City.
Detroit faces a tall task of reaching the playoffs this season. The Eastern Conference remains extremely competitive in 2024-25, leaving little room for one of the teams on the outside to surge into the mix. Even so, only three points separate third and sixth place in the Atlantic.
Many experts, however, don’t view the Red Wings as a win-now club. They have an exciting young core headlined by Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider to pair with captain Dylan Larkin and Alex Debrincat. But they still appear a few key pieces away from being considered a legitimate post-season contender.
With or without Lalonde behind the bench, Detroit will likely assume a seller’s role again if the team doesn’t pick up the pace leading up to this season’s trade deadline in March.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: SecretName101. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.