The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe caught up with Red Wings coach and former Toledo Walleye coach Derek Lalonde, engaging in a wide-ranging conversation:
Question: How thrilled are you to be the head coach of an Original Six franchise with a storied tradition?
Answer: “It’s a huge honor. It’s also a huge challenge in that, too. I feel a lot of responsibility with it. I’m really excited about it. It was never about getting to the next job. That is kind of the way I’ve approached by entire career and it has suited me well. The fact that I’m coaching in the NHL is exciting. The fact that it is Detroit, it’s very surreal. I’m getting to work and starting to organize things with some structure. I’m putting some things in place. It’s definitely has sunk in.”
Q: When did becoming an NHL coach become a realistic possibility in your mind?
A: “Honestly it wasn’t until the success we were having during our second Cup run [in Tampa Bay]. That was where it became a possibility to me. I had checked off a lot of boxes that general managers were looking for — experience at all levels, head coaching experience at different levels, and also experience at the NHL level. And the success and the remarkable consistency we had probably made it an easier decision for Steve, and he ultimately offered me the job.”
