The Toronto Maple Leafs added experience to their bench on Friday by hiring Derek Lalonde as an assistant coach. The move comes just over five months after Lalonde was dismissed from his role as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.
Lalonde led the Red Wings for two seasons (2022–2024), compiling an 89-86-23 record but falling short of the Stanley Cup Playoffs both years. He was let go on December 26 and replaced by veteran coach Todd McLellan.
Before Detroit, Lalonde built his reputation under Jon Cooper as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning, helping guide the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021. His résumé also includes international experience with Team USA at the IIHF World Championships in both 2023 and 2024.
Lalonde now joins head coach Craig Berube’s staff in Toronto. Berube completed his first season behind the Leafs bench with a 52-26-4 record and a first-place finish in the Atlantic Division. However, the team fell in seven games to the Florida Panthers in the second round of the playoffs.
Toronto had a vacancy on its coaching staff after assistant Lane Lambert was hired as head coach of the Seattle Kraken on May 29. The Leafs are looking to reshape their coaching group in hopes of finally ending that historic drought.
