Last week, the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe conducted an exclusive Q and A session with new Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde. This weekend, Monroe examines Lalonde’s lasting effects upon Toledo and the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, through the words of its players, alumni, and current head coach, Dan Watson:
Lalonde, 49, got his first head coaching position at the pro level when he took over Toledo’s struggling ECHL franchise in 2014-15. He led that Walleye team to the biggest turnaround in ECHL history, as Toledo posted a 50-15-7 record and won the Brabham Cup as regular-season champions.
“We had great teams when Derek was here,” said Alden Hirschfeld, a former Walleye forward who is now an assistant coach with the team. “Derek was big on building a winning culture with a positive atmosphere in the locker room, creating hard-working, winning teams. He was detailed in his messages and cared about his players on the ice and off the ice.”
On June 30, Lalonde was named the 28th coach in the history of the Detroit Red Wings.
“He will do great in Detroit, because of his knowledge and passion for the game,” Berschbach said.
Since Lalonde’s arrival in Toledo, the Walleye organization has become a perennial powerhouse, making the playoffs every year. Current head coach Dan Watson, who was an associate head coach under Lalonde, still uses many of the same philosophies.
“I know how he operates,” Watson said. “He’s a winner.”
Since leaving Toledo, Lalonde became an assistant coach with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, who reached the Stanley Cup Final three consecutive seasons and won back-to-back titles.
“He’s worked his way up and coached at all levels. He will do great in Detroit,” Hirschfeld said. “It’s special to have a coach coming in to coach the NHL team of your ECHL team’s affiliate that you played for.”
Continued; this is a great read…
