GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Time is up for Derek Lalonde. The Detroit Purple Wings introduced they’ve fired their head coach and affiliate head coach Bob Boughner and employed Todd McLellan and Trent Yawney to take over.
Lalonde was employed in 2022, inheriting a struggling squad from Jeff Blashill. The crew improved incrementally over the primary two years, narrowly lacking out on the playoffs final season.
However getting into a yr the place the crew was anticipated to make the following step and turn into a possible Stanley Cup contender, the Wings have fallen flat. They’re 13-17-4 on the yr and combating to remain out of final place within the Atlantic Division.
The struggles are throughout the board. The Purple Wings are averaging 2.56 targets per recreation and giving up 3.26 targets per recreation: twenty ninth and twenty fifth, respectively. The crew’s energy play has been common (22.5%, eleventh within the NHL), however their penalty kill has been dreadful (68.8%, thirty first within the NHL).
McLellan would be the twenty ninth head coach within the franchise’s historical past. He’s no stranger to Detroit. McLellan served as an assistant below Mike Babcock from 2005 by way of 2008, serving to the Wings win the 2008 Stanley Cup.
That summer season, he was employed as the top coach of the San Jose Sharks. He coached the Sharks for seven years earlier than mutually agreeing to half methods. McLellan then took over the Edmonton Oilers for 4 seasons and the Los Angeles Kings for 5, earlier than being fired final February.
Yawney is anticipated to function an assistant coach. The longtime defenseman has coached throughout the NHL and AHL since 1999, most lately serving as an assistant below McLellan in Los Angeles.
The Purple Wings return to motion tomorrow evening with a house recreation in opposition to Toronto. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
