Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman makes coaching change in Detroit!

The Detroit Red Wings have just announced that head coach Derek Lalonde, along with assistant coach Bob Boughner have been relieved of their coaching duties after a 13-17-4 start. Todd McLellan has been hired at the franchise’s new head coach.

McLellan becomes the Wings' 29th head coach in team history.

Rumours had gotten louder about a pending coach change in Detroit following the team’s disappointing 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues ahead of the holiday break. This was Lalonde’s third season as Red Wings bench boss.

The Red Wings are 34 games into the season and seventh in the Atlantic Division with 30 points, eight behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild-card spot, and now they need to find renewed hope in McLellan to turn things around and fast.

McLellan is joined by assistant Trent Yawney.

With more than 16 seasons of NHL head coaching experience, McLellan has posted a 598-412-134 regular-season record and a 42-46 postseason mark with the Los Angeles Kings (2019-24), Edmonton Oilers (2015-19) and San Jose Sharks (2008-15). His 598 regular-season wins are ranked 24th in NHL history and sixth-most among active coaches behind Paul Maurice (891), Lindy Ruff (876), Peter Laviolette (823), John Tortorella (757) and Peter DeBoer (632). Teams coached by McLellan have reached the 50-win mark three times and the 100-point plateau six times. McLellan’s teams have also advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs nine times, including six-consecutive postseason appearances with the Sharks. In recognition of his efforts, McLellan has twice been named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Coach of the Year (2008-09, 2016-17) and has coached at two NHL All-Star Games (2009, 2012).

Before this move to Detroit, McLellan spent parts of five seasons as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Kings from 2019-24. He made his NHL head coaching debut with the San Jose Sharks, where he remains the franchise’s all-time leader in games coached (540), wins (311), points (688) and postseason games coached (62).

Yzerman makes the move on the last day of the holiday break and the Red Wings will have McLellan behind their bench for the first time on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.