Opinion: Detroit Red Wings Fired Derek LaLonde Too Late

The Detroit Red Wings suffered a 4-1 loss last night to the Washington Capitals. The Red Wings have now had two awful third periods against Washington in less than two weeks. It was their eighth loss in their last ten games. Todd McClellan took over the team on December 26th. Since McClellan took over the Red Wings went on a seven-game winning streak also winning eight of their last nine. They went into the Four Nations Faceoff break holding a playoff spot. Since the break, they are 4-9-1 and are being outscored 44-35.

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

Derek LaLonde

Derek LaLonde was Red Wings coach to start the season and he went 13-17-4. The Red Wings earlier in the season had a West Coast road trip in which they went 0-2-1 allowing five goals per game while scoring four goals per game. That is when LaLonde should have been relieved of his duties. At that point, the Red Wings were 7-9-2. Since then under LaLonde, the Red Wings went 6-8-2. Who knows what would have happened but based on the teams they played and the leadership they had this team may have been in a playoff spot and still holding a spot heading into the trade deadline causing them to be more aggressive in adding key pieces.

Get Your Detroit Hockey Merchandise Here

The Red Wings after the West Coast trip under LaLonde lost seven one-score games out of ten total losses. McLellan has instilled the mindset of the first to three. Whichever team is the first to score three goals likely wins the game which has worked well. This Red Wings team has the hardest schedule winning percentage-wise and will have an uphill climb going forward.