Derek Lalonde is returning to the National Hockey League coaching ranks.
On Friday, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced the hiring of Lalonde as an assistant coach. This move fills the coaching staff position left vacant by Lane Lambert.
Lambert had recently accepted a head coaching position with the Seattle Kraken on May 29th, having previously served one season as an associate coach under Craig Berube.
Lalonde, aged 52, most recently spent three seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, where he compiled a record of 89-86-23.
Before his tenure in Detroit, Lalonde was an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2018 to 2022. He was part of the coaching staff that helped the Lightning secure consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.
Prior to his NHL coaching career, Lalonde held head coaching roles with the American Hockey League`s Iowa Wild and the ECHL`s Toledo Walleye.
Additionally, he has international coaching experience, serving as an assistant coach for the United States team at the IIHF World Championships in both 2023 and 2024.
Tristan Blackwood