Detroit Red Wings hire former Stanley Cup-winning assistant coach Todd McLellan as new head coach
Former Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Todd McLellan has been hired as the new head coach in Hockeytown following the dismissal of Derek Lalonde.
The Detroit Red Wings have announced a major shakeup to their coaching staff this afternoon following a disastrous 13-17-4 start that has them in next-to-last place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.
General manager Steve Yzerman announced that the team has parted ways with coach Derek Lalonde and assistant coach Bob Boughner (who ran the team defense), and have brought former Stanley Cup-winning assistant Coach Todd McLellan back to Hockeytown.
McLellan becomes the 29th head coach in team history for the Red Wings, who have also hired former NHL defenseman Trent Yawney as an assistant coach.
The new Red Wings head coach originally got his start as head coach of the North Battleford North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior League before moving on as head coach of the WHL's Swift Current Broncos.
He would later help guide the AHL's Houston Aeros to the Calder Cup in 2003 before being hired by Mike Babcock to serve as one of his assistant coaches with the Red Wings upon his hiring by the franchise in 2005.
McLellan spent 3 years behind the Red Wings bench with Babcock, culminating in the Stanley Cup victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008. He was then hired as head coach of the San Jose Sharks ahead of 2008-09.
He led them to the President's Trophy that year, but they flamed out in the 1st round of the postseason. He spent several more years behind the bench of the Sharks, eventually becoming their winningest coach in franchise history.
The Sharks and McLellan parted ways in 2015, and he was subsequently hired as the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, who had just drafted phenom youngster Connor McDavid.
In his 2nd season behind the Oilers bench, McLellan helped lead the Oilers to Game 7 of the postseason' second round thanks to the contributions of McDavid and current Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot.
The Oilers parted way with McLellan in 2018, and he wouldn't have to wait long before landing another head coaching position.
He was named head coach of the Los Angeles Kings in April of 2019, where he remained until midway through last year (also with Cam Talbot).
He has a total record of 598-412-134 in the regular season, with a 42-46 in the postseason.
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17 HOURS AGO | 190 ANSWERS Detroit Red Wings hire former Stanley Cup-winning assistant coach Todd McLellan as new head coach Was Todd McLellan the right choice for the Detroit Red Wings after the dismissal of Derek Lalonde? | ||
