Insider Reveals Detroit Red Wings Three Game Homestand Could Decide Derek Lalonde's Future
The Detroit Red Wings are in one of the NHL's longest Stanley Cup Playoff droughts, and if this week doesn't go well, they could move on from coach Derek Lalonde.
Through 21 games this season, the Detroit Red Wings sit at 9-10-2, and while they remain firmly in contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, the early results aren't what they expected.
Although plenty of blame for that lays at the feet of GM Steve Yzerman, who has struggled to attract big names to Detroit and has made some baffling decisions, but now, it's Head Coach Derek Lalonde that sits firmly on the hot seat.
As far back as April, Yzerman has been pondering a coaching change, and now, all signs point to the team's upcoming home stand as crucial to the survival of Lalonde behind the bench.
According to speculation from TSN's Darren Dreger, if the team fail to get rolling on their upcoming home stand that features games against the Flames, Devils and Canucks, it could be the end of the road for Lalonde's tenure.
Further along in that report, Dreger revealed that the team will look to an interim coach while they wait for a top candidate to become available, but with so few names out there, it's unclear who they would call upon.
While the Red Wings have struggled to put together an elite squad, with the likes of Alex DeBrincat, Moritz Seider, Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond as the only top stars this team have acquired, Lalonde certainly could have gotten much more out of them.
For the future of this team, it appears clear that Lalonde won't be in charge for very long in Detroit, and if they can get a reputable coach to replace him, it could be a good move, but if not, it's hard to see where the Red Wings go from here.
