Red Wings Daily: Investment In Lalonde Futures Would’ve Paid Dividends; Detroit Prospect Zito on the Move

Back in early June, NHL betting sites were offering odds on who might be the selection as the next coach of the Detroit Red Wings. At the time, former Red Wings center Sergei Fedorov was established as the unlikely +350 favorite.

Here at Detroit Hockey Now, we advised that it would be a foolish play to back Fedorov to be the next man behind the Detroit bench. The bad blood he caused upon his departure from Detroit hasn’t been forgotten among those occupying high places within the organization.

Derek Lalonde has been through the grind and won two Cups. Now he'll bring what he's learned to the @DetroitRedWings!@Rupper17 | @KenDaneykoMSG | #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/6rOY3DcgYC

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) July 2, 2022

However, further down the odds board, Detroit Hockey Now saw some value that was jumping off the page. “Tampa Bay Lightning associate coach Derek Lalonde is an intriguing option at +1200,” DHN wrote at the time.

For those who were opting to take advantage of that inherent value, they were smiling on Thursday when announcement came that Lalonde was indeed the new Detroit coach.

A $10 bet on Lalonde would’ve brought a profit of $120 to the savvy bettor.

Zito On The Move

The OHL Windsor Spitfires have traded forward and Red Wings prospect Pasquale Zito. The Spitfires sent Zito to the Niagar IceDogs in a separate trade for second-round draft picks in 2023 and 2024 and fourth and sixth-round picks in 2024. As well, Windsor gets  conditional fourth and fifth-round picks in 2025.

Did you think we were done? We’ve got two new Dogs in the house‼️ Welcome Pasquale Zito and Nathan Ribau! pic.twitter.com/Zk70Y3qOI6

— Niagara IceDogs (@OHLIceDogs) June 30, 2022

The Red Wings made Zito their 166th overall selection of the 2021 NHL entry draft. He’s collected 25-30-55 totals in 95 games for Windsor.

This is a big year for Zito, 19. He remains unsigned and the Red Wings have until June 1, 2023 to decide whether to ink him to an entry-level pact or allow Zito to re-enter the draft.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Could Cutter Gauthier be the player Detroit claims with the 8th overall pick of the 2022 NHL entry draft?
• Working his way up the coaching ladder, getting to the NHL was never the be all and end all for Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde
• The AHL Grand Rapids Griffins signed former Michigan State goalie John Lethamon
• Two truths and a lie – the Derek Lalonde edition

Hockey Now Network

Pittsburgh: The job of Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ron Hextall is to put together the best team he can. Demands from the fan base that the team must keep veterans Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang should be irrelevant to Hextall.

Vancouver: Patrik Allvin, GM of the Vancouver Canucks, insists he’s in no hurry to trade center JT Miller.

Montreal: Check out the final Montreal Hockey Now rankings for the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Vegas: The Vegas Golden Knights don’t have a pick in the NHL entry draft until 48th overall. Who might they select?

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San Jose: The decision of the San Jose Sharks to fire coach Bob Boughner so deep into the offseason isn’t fair but it is understandable.

Philadelphia: Brad Shaw is leaving the Canucks to join John Tortorella’s staff with the Philadelphia Flyers. Meanwhile, ex-Flyers head coach Mike Yeo is joining Bruce Boudreau’s staff in Vancouver.

Washington: Who should the Washington Capitals pursue to be their No. 1 goalie?

Colorado: A Denver police officer tried to eject Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram from the club’s Stanley Cup parade, refusing to believe he was a member of the team.