Ex-Red Wings Coach Derek Lalonde Remains Humble and Credits Steve Yzerman Despite Being Fired
Photo credit: OKC Thunder Wire- USA Today
Derek Lalonde was fired by GM Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings, and Todd McLellan replaced him behind the bench, yet in recent comments, he remains humble.
Former Red Wings Coach Derek Lalonde was fired on December 26th by GM Steve Yzerman. He'd make an appearance on the Cam & Strick Podcast this week, where he gave a candid interview about being let go by the team.
The Cam & Strick Podcast is hosted by former NHL enforcer Cam Janssen and St. Louis Blues reporter Andy Strickland.
Lalonde delves into the atmosphere in which he was under, as Yzerman continues to rule the roost in Detroit to many people's dismay.
In spite of all that happened to him in Detroit, he came out with a humble outlook and even believed that Yzerman was a positive influence on him.
"He (Yzerman) is an intense, hard-nosed person and I'm grateful I got three years with him because he made me a ton better," Lalonde said on the podcast. "It wasn't the most pleasant and comfortable at times but he made me better and that's all you can ask really."
Lalonde would mention the intensity of Yzerman during the interview. While Yzerman was described as an introvert, he'd make brief statements about how the game went for the team to Lalonde and would see himself out.
A perfectionist.
If it sounds odd, maybe because it is so. Yzerman didn't become one of the best players in the NHL to do it by being a slouch, he has methods to analyze his own game and others' with.
Perfectionist. Introvert.
Yzerman on the team's 3-0 win in 2022 against the New York Islanders:
He comes in and he's mad at a couple of individuals, and rightfully so. He sits there and he goes, 'Newsy, I tend to be a little negative in some of these situations. I'm not happy with a couple of the players. It was a good win and I'm going to leave.
In the awkwardness of the interaction going through your head right now, just put yourself in Lalonde's shoes, trying to discern the next steps as your GM was unhappy even after a win.
It likely pushed Lalonde to step-up his coaching game, and figure out how to stay on top of the problematic players in the lineup.
Lalonde's first head coaching gig was given to him by Yzerman and he was for a brief time the coach of an original-six team. A dream job by any standard.
He'd leave the team with a record of 198-89-86-23 and a .508 winning percentage, per Hockey Reference.
It sounds like Lalonde will be able to enjoy this brief period of unemployment with his family, while he gears up for another job search in the future.
Best of luck to Coach Lalonde.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
| POLL | ||
MAI 23 | 111 ANSWERS Ex-Red Wings Coach Derek Lalonde Remains Humble and Credits Steve Yzerman Despite Being Fired Do you think firing Coach Derek Lalonde was the right thing to do by GM Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings? | ||
| Yes | 103 | 92.8 % |
| No | 8 | 7.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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