Maple Leafs Bring in Derek Lalonde as Assistant Coach to Bolster Defense

Caspian Hollingsworth
Jun 7 2025
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Toronto Maple Leafs Add Derek Lalonde to Reinforce Coaching Staff

The Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t standing still when it comes to their bench. On June 6, 2025, the team made a move that’s got the league talking: they added Derek Lalonde as an assistant coach. Lalonde steps into the role left open by Lane Lambert, who left the Leafs for a shot at shaping things with the Seattle Kraken.

Lalonde, 52, is anything but a rookie to this job. Most recently, he was at the helm of the Detroit Red Wings, guiding them for almost three seasons. His time with Detroit started with promise but ended halfway through the 2024-25 campaign after a tough 14-17-4 run. Lalonde left the Red Wings with a record of 89-86-23—right around the .500 mark. Detroit swapped him out for experienced coach Todd McLellan in December 2024, but Lalonde’s coaching journey was far from over.

What sets Lalonde apart isn’t just his head coaching experience. Before Detroit, he filled a crucial role behind the bench with the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2018 to 2022. If you remember Tampa’s Cup runs in 2020 and 2021, Lalonde was right in the thick of things. He played a big part in shaping Tampa’s defensive core and penalty kill systems—areas where Toronto’s been looking for a real spark. There, he worked under Jon Cooper, earning a reputation as a details guy with a knack for calming the room, even when the stakes were sky-high.

Why Lalonde's Fit Matters for Toronto

Let’s face it, the Leafs have often looked for answers when it comes to protecting leads and shutting down top opponents. This past year tells the story: under Lane Lambert, Toronto’s penalty kill showed progress, bumping up from 76.9% in 2023-24 (23rd in the league) to 77.9% (17th) by mid-season of 2024-25. But in a market where fans want more than "good enough," Lalonde arrives with expectations attached.

He’s well-versed in pressure. Along with NHL experience, Lalonde coached in the AHL with the Iowa Wild and dominated the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye. His coaching gigs go international too—he’s twice suited up as an assistant for Team USA at the World Championships. This variety means he’s seen just about every challenge hockey throws at a bench boss or assistant.

On the ice, Toronto is banking on his ability to bring defensive stability. That includes tightening up their penalty kill—a glaring area some nights—and instilling the attention to detail that made Tampa such a tough out in the playoffs. With Craig Berube now leading the charge as head coach, Lalonde’s tactical brain and steady hand give the Leafs another veteran presence in the room.

Fans can expect to see Lalonde putting his fingerprints all over the penalty kill drills and helping the defensemen—guys like Morgan Rielly and Timothy Liljegren—take the next step in their decision-making and coverage. It's not just about X's and O's, either; he's known for being a communicator, someone players trust when things get heavy on the schedule.

The Maple Leafs aren’t making a quiet bet here. Lalonde is seen as one of the best minds available for exactly the kind of roles Toronto needs to fix. The question now is whether his playbook—and proven results at the highest levels—will finally help the Leafs silence their doubters, especially when spring rolls around and the pressure’s at its fiercest.

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