The Detroit Red Wings have parted ways with head coach Derek Lalonde, announcing Todd McLellan as his replacement. General Manager Steve Yzerman made the bold move amid another challenging season for the storied franchise, often referred to as “Hockeytown.”
The announcement came on the heels of a three-game losing streak and a broader slump where Detroit dropped nine of its last 12 games. With only 13 wins in their first 34 contests, the Red Wings sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, just ahead of the Buffalo Sabres.
Lalonde, who was in his third year as head coach, had joined Detroit after a successful tenure as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he won two Stanley Cups. Yzerman, who transitioned from Tampa Bay to Detroit in 2019, initially inherited Jeff Blashill as coach before hiring Lalonde in 2022 to rejuvenate the team’s playoff hopes.
Despite high-profile signings, including three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane, and re-signing him in the offseason, the Red Wings have struggled to recapture their championship-era magic. Between 1996-97 and 2007-08, Detroit lifted the Stanley Cup four times, with Yzerman as a pivotal player.
The franchise now faces the grim prospect of extending its playoff drought to nine consecutive seasons, the second-longest active streak in the NHL behind Buffalo.
In addition to dismissing Lalonde, associate coach Bob Boughner was also let go. Trent Yawney has been brought on as an assistant coach to support McLellan, who has signed a multiyear deal to lead the Red Wings.
McLellan, 57, brings extensive experience to his fourth NHL head coaching role, having previously led the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings. His track record includes nine playoff appearances in 14 full seasons as a head coach.
McLellan is no stranger to Detroit, where he began his NHL coaching career as an assistant in 2005. He was part of the Red Wings’ coaching staff during their 2008 Stanley Cup-winning campaign under Mike Babcock. After his Detroit tenure, McLellan guided the Sharks to three Western Conference finals appearances before moving on to Edmonton and Los Angeles.
This move marks the NHL’s fourth coaching change of the season and the 15th in the past calendar year, reflecting a league-wide trend of turnover. Other notable changes include the Boston Bruins parting ways with Jim Montgomery, who quickly found a role with the St. Louis Blues, and the Chicago Blackhawks replacing Luke Richardson with Anders Sorensen earlier this month.
The Red Wings are now betting on McLellan’s experience to steer them out of their prolonged slump and back into contention, hoping to revive the glory days of their storied franchise.
