Once upon a time, Derek Lalonde was a rising young coach in the Red Wings organization. Now he's the head coach of the big club, appointed to the role Thursday by Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman.
"I'm very pleased to announce Derek as our new head coach," Yzerman said in an official statement. "He has proven himself as an excellent coach at every level and has spent the last four seasons in the National Hockey League as part of a very successful program in Tampa Bay.
"We feel he is ready to take the next step in his career as the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings."
The 49-year-old Lalonde was hired by Lightning head coach Jon Cooper in 2018 after excelling as head coach of the AHL's Iowa Wild and helped Tampa win two Stanley Cups and reach the Finals each of the past three seasons.
Before his AHL stint, Lalonde spent two seasons as head coach of the Red Wings' ECHL affiliate, the Toledo Walleye. He was named ECHL Coach of the Year his first season in charge when he led the team to the Brabham Cup. The Walleye were 50 games over .500 under Lalonde's watch.
The Red Wings haven't finished above .500 in eight years. But the team has a bright future with a growing core of young talent, headlined by Dylan Larkin and Rookie of the Year Moritz Seider. Lalonde has won wherever he's been. His next stop will be his biggest -- and potentially most rewarding -- challenge yet.
"I'm thrilled to be named head coach of the Red Wings," Lalonde said in a statement. "I'd like to thank Chris Ilitch and the entire Ilitch family, as well as Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings management team for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead this historic franchise.
"I'm ready to get to work with our group. There's a very bright future ahead in Detroit."
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