It's make or break season for Derek Lalonde

His defensive systems are sound on paper, but the lineup, including Shayne Gostisbehere, Jeff Petry, and Jake Walman, struggled with execution.

Lalonde has been criticized for not holding players accountable. Veterans like Petry, Olli Maatta, Daniel Sprong, and Austin Czarnik made repeated mistakes without repercussions, while younger players like Walman and Jonatan Berggren were benched for minor errors. His handling of goaltending also raised concerns. Alex Lyon, who played exceptionally well, was overworked, starting 43 games, three times more than his career high, contributing to a late-season decline. Meanwhile, James Reimer was underutilized.

Lalonde's reluctance to rotate players affected the defense. Justin Holl, capable of third-pairing minutes, spent most of the season as a healthy scratch despite his $3.4 million salary. Additionally, Lalonde's habit of frequently changing lines disrupted team chemistry, breaking up successful combinations like the top line of Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond and the "Grind Line" of Michael Rasmussen, Andrew Copp, and Christian Fischer.

While Lalonde's tenure is still short, entering his third season, and his teams haven't been stellar, addressing these issues is crucial for his future with the Red Wings.

Source: Octopus Thrower
What's needed by Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde going into his third season?