Red Wings fire coach Derek Lalonde; Todd McLellan named replacement

The Detroit Red Wings announced Thursday that head coach Derek Lalonde has been relieved of his duties and that Todd McLellan has been named the 29th head coach in franchise history.

Lalonde was in his third season as bench boss of the Red Wings. Through 34 games in 2024-25, the Red Wings sit 13-17-4 and eight points back of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

Lalonde was named head coach of the Red Wings in 2022. In the two prior seasons, the Red Wings did not qualify for the postseason after finishing with 80 and 91 points, respectively. Detroit has not participated in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2016, the second-longest active drought in the NHL behind the Buffalo Sabres.

Prior to joining the Red Wings, Lalonde was an an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, including the 2018-19 season in which current Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman served as a senior advisor with the Lightning. Lalonde was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Lightning.

McLellan becomes the Red Wings head coach following stops with the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings. McLellan stands 24th in NHL history with 598 career wins. The 57-year-old Saskatchewan native most recently served as bench boss of the Kings from 2019 until his dismissal in February. McLellan twice qualified for the playoffs with the Kings but has not advanced past the first round since the 2017 postseason while with the Oilers.

Prior to becoming a head coach, McLellan was an assistant with the Red Wings from 2005 to 2008, underscored by a Stanley Cup championship during his final season while part of Mike Babcock’s coaching staff.

The Red Wings also announced Thursday that associate coach Bob Boughner has been dismissed and that Trent Yawney has been appointed as assistant coach under McLellan.