2 days ago
Toronto Maple Leafs add Stanley Cup-winning strategist Derek Lalonde as Assistant Coach
The
Toronto Maple Leafs
have appointed
Derek Lalonde
as an assistant coach, filling the vacancy left by Lane Lambert, who recently became head coach of the Seattle Kraken. This was announced on Friday, June 6.
After a turbulent exit from the Detroit Red Wings in December 2024, where he was dismissed midway through his third season,
Lalonde
found himself at a professional crossroads. He served as head coach from 2022 until December 2024, achieving an 89-86-23 record over nearly three seasons. His tenure with Detroit ended after a 13-17-4 start to the 2024–25 season.
Before leading the Red Wings, Lalonde was an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2018 to 2022. During this period, the team won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
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Lalonde has also represented the United States internationally, serving as an assistant coach at the IIHF World Championships in both 2023 and 2024.
His career includes head coaching roles with the AHL's Iowa Wild (2016–2018) and the ECHL's Toledo Walleye (2014–2016). In Toledo, he led the team to a 50-15-5-2 record in his first season and was named ECHL Coach of the Year.
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Lalonde joins head coach
Craig Berube
's staff, which also includes assistants
Marc Savard
and Mike Van Ryn. The
Maple Leafs
finished the 2024–25 regular season with a 52-26-4 record, topping the Atlantic Division, but were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Florida Panthers.
FAQs
Where is Derek Lalonde coaching now?
Derek Lalonde is currently an assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs, hired in June 2025 after three seasons as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings (2022-2025).
Did Derek Lalonde play hockey?
Yes, Derek Lalonde played hockey as a goaltender, appearing in 41 games for SUNY Cortland from 1991 to 1995; he was inducted into the school's C-Club Hall of Fame in 2023.
