Detroit Red Wings
Lalonde Blames 2024 Offseason For His Demise as Red Wings Coach
Critical of summer 2024 roster moves
During his tenure as coach of the Detroit Red Wings, Derek Lalonde grew infamous for following a compliment with a backhanded slap. And it seems that’s exactly what he was doing to Detroit GM Steve Yzerman while describing the causes behind his demise as coach of the team.
Appearing on The Cam & Strick Podcast, Lalonde was offering praise for the chance he got to learn under Yzerman’s tutelage.
“He’s just extremely competitive,” Lalonde said. “He made me a ton better because he’s so hard. He’s an intense, hard-nosed person.
“I’m grateful I got three years with him, because he made me a ton better. Not the most pleasant and comfortable at times, but he made me better and that’s all you can ask, I guess.”
Then, as is his fashion, Lalonde also seemed to give Yzerman a little bit of grief for leaving his cupboard – or in this case, his bench – a little bit bare.
“Our summer was what it was,” Lalonde said. “We lose Shayne Gostisbehere, we lost Jake Walman and we lose David Perron. Things didn’t go our way around July 1. It hit some snags and we weren’t playing well.”
Red Wings Yzerman Feeling The Heat
Lalonde also appeared to suggest that NHL players are just a little bit on the sensitive side when it comes to critiques from their coaches.
“Holding guys accountable is hard in this league,” Lalonde said. “They want to be held accountable, but it’s always on their own terms.”
@Buccigross chatting hockey with my son @pat_moe19 and former @lgrw Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde at the @ToledoWalleye game last night! Priceless! Total class act, had nothing but good things to say about the Wings organization, great dude. pic.twitter.com/5nhmoWQ8ww
— Doug Modrowski (@dougmodrowski) May 22, 2025
Describing Yzerman as introverted by nature, Lalonde does believe that the stress of trying to turn around the Red Wings is beginning to wear on the team’s GM.
“He feels pressure and wants to win, too,” Lalonde said. “He knew he was taking a really tough rebuild and it’s had its bumps.
“I think he’s feeling it a little bit, too. He wears it, too. He’s human, like the rest of us.”
