The Detroit Red Wings have made significant changes behind the bench, firing head coach Derek Lalonde and hiring Todd McLellan as his replacement. This shake-up, announced on December 26, follows the team’s disappointing performance this season, including three consecutive losses which marked nine losses out of their last twelve games. With this, the Red Wings have taken another step to revitalize their coaching staff and improve their chances of breaking the prolonged playoff drought since 2017.
Lalonde’s tenure ended after nearly three seasons leading the team. He was hired by general manager Steve Yzerman during the summer of 2022, with aspirations to steer the Red Wings back to playoff contention after years of underperformance. His record with Detroit stands at 89 wins, 86 losses, and 23 overtime losses, accomplishing only .508 points percentage over 198 games. Despite some promise last year, where the team finished above .500 for the first time since 2016, this season’s struggles placed him firmly on the hot seat.
Under Lalonde’s leadership, the Red Wings began the 2024-25 season with high expectations, but things quickly soured. Currently boasting only 30 points with a record of 13 wins, 17 losses, and 4 overtime losses, the team sits 15th in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Ottawa Senators by eight points for the last wild-card spot. This is particularly concerning for fans, as the franchise has not seen playoff action since the 2016-17 season, marking one of the longest playoff droughts among the NHL teams.
McLellan, who returns to the Red Wings after previously contributing as an assistant coach from 2005 to 2008 and winning the Stanley Cup with them, is poised to bring his vast experience to the team. Having coached for 16 seasons across several teams including the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings, McLellan has accumulated an overall coaching record of 598 wins, 412 losses, and 134 overtime losses. His ability to guide teams to the playoffs has been proven as he achieved nine playoff appearances during his coaching career.
Sources report Lalonde’s firing was expected after recent performances, especially following the conclusion of his three-game homestand, where the team could only muster one win. Notably, Darren Dreger of TSN had indicated in late November Lalonde might have been on borrowed time, with any complication during the homestand likely sealing his fate. General manager Yzerman's patience appeared to wane as Detroit struggled offensively, ranking 29th in the league with only 2.56 goals per game—their scoring shortcomings significantly contributing to their current standings.
Another notable departure has been associate coach Bob Boughner. His role with the team particularly focused on overseeing the penalty kill, which has been horrific this season, operating at nearly the worst rate league-wide at 68.8%. Boughner, who has head coaching experience with the Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks, was also let go on the same day as Lalonde, paving the way for Trent Yawney’s appointment alongside McLellan. Yawney has previously worked alongside McLellan during their respective tenures and is expected to bring synergy to the coaching staff.
For McLellan, returning to Detroit is significant not just for his career but also for the organization as he brings fresh hope and strategic insight to revive the struggling Red Wings. The team has long been known as “Hockeytown,” drawing concern from the fan base as the playoff drought extends. McLellan’s leadership is hoped to reinvigorate the struggling franchise and instill competitiveness back within the roster.
While the move marks just one of several coaching changes around the NHL this season, with other teams like the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks having made similar adjustments, its impact on the Red Wings remains to be seen as they continue striving for improvement. Just prior to the holidays, the frustration of the past season was compounded by their inconsistency, and it’s clear the stakes are high for the newly-installed coaching duo. The pressure is on them to transform the team’s fortunes swiftly, as obtaining any semblance of playoff contention this season appears increasingly unlikely, with statistical analyses from Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic indicating less than one percent chance of breaking their playoff drought.
Integral for McLellan will be strengthening both the team’s offensive capabilities and defending performance, to create more scoring opportunities moving forward, something they critically need. With hopes hanging on the changes made, Red Wings fans hold their breath, needing to witness substantial improvement and potentially securing their first playoff berth since 2017.
