Detroit Red Wings insider reveals the team's first move of the off-season is a coaching change
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While there are bound to be changes to the Red Wings' roster this summer, more changes could potentially be coming to the team's coaching staff.
There was a monumental change in leadership for the Detroit Red Wings in their now-completed year that took place on December 26.
Following a dismal 13-17-4 start, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman finally made the move that should have been done weeks prior; coach Derek Lalonde was terminated along with defensive assistant coach Bob Boughner.
Yzerman then hired former Stanley Cup-winning assistant coach Todd McLellan as the new full-time head coach while also hiring his longtime assistant Trent Yawney.
While there was an immediate "new coach bump" in the form of a pair of 7-game win streaks, the Red Wings ultimately imploded in March for a 3rd straight year and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for what is now a franchise-record 9th straight year.
While McLellan is back in Detroit to stay with a multi-year contract, could more tweaks be coming to the coaching staff?
Max Bultman of The Athletic speculated that there could be moves coming, especially if assistant Alex Tanguay, who oversaw Detroit's strong power play, were to be extended offers from other clubs.
Detroit's power play is certainly a major selling point for assistant coach Alex Tanguay, who runs that unit. But does Tanguay start getting head coach looks soon? And then there's assistant coach Jay Varady and goaltending coach Alex Westlund, both of whom were inherited from Lalonde's staff.
McLellan spoke positively about the staff that was in place when he arrived, who remained behind after Lalonde and Boughner's departure:
I like our staff. One of the toughest things is blending a staff halfway through the year. The loyalty amongst staff members is real strong. There's a strong bond. Rarely is it ever divided.
And, I know this from talking to Yawns, you lose somebody you trust and value, in whatever position they are, and blend two staffs together, it's not easy.
Our staff, in my opinion, did an outstanding job of accepting newness and still remaining loyal to people they worked with in the past.
And, I know this from talking to Yawns, you lose somebody you trust and value, in whatever position they are, and blend two staffs together, it's not easy.
Our staff, in my opinion, did an outstanding job of accepting newness and still remaining loyal to people they worked with in the past.
It wouldn't be unusual to see interest in an assistant like Tanguay build from outside of Detroit, considering his work on Detroit's special teams.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 24 | 167 ANSWERS Detroit Red Wings insider reveals the team's first move of the off-season is a coaching change Will there be more changes to the Red Wings coaching staff this summer? | ||
| Yes | 134 | 80.2 % |
| No | 33 | 19.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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