For the 1st time since the mid-1980's, the Detroit Red Wings made an in-season coaching change.
Derek Lalonde and assistant coach Bob Boughner were relieved of their duties by GM Steve Yzerman, who then promptly hired former Stanley Cup-winning assistant Todd McLellan as head coach, while Trent Yawney also joined the team as an assistant coach.
While the Red Wings dropped McLellan's 1st game behind the bench 5-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs, they earned a huge victory in last night's game at Little Caesars Arena against the Washington Capitals, a 4-2 final.
During practice today, Red Wings forward Andrew Copp explained how he first discovered that Lalonde had been dismissed as head coach, per Ansar Khan of MLive.
Copp, who is skating in his 3rd season with the Red Wings, has been mostly underwhelming so far during his entire tenure with the club. Signed to provide an offensive punch, Copp has fallen well short of expectations.
However, he seemed to call out former coach Derek Lalonde earlier this year when he implied he was being asked to take on more of a checking role.
During last night's game against the Capitals, Copp skated on the 2nd line with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane, and won a battle behind the net that eventually resulted in Detroit's 3rd goal of the opening period:
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DECEMBRE 30 | 177 ANSWERS Andrew Copp reveals how he found out Detroit Red Wings fired Derek Lalonde Can Todd McLellan help Andrew Copp pick up his offensive game? | ||