DETROIT — When the Detroit Red Wings return to Center ICE Arena in Traverse City, Mich., for Training Camp later this month, they’ll be under the guidance of a new-look coaching staff.
In the fifth and final installment DetroitRedWings.com‘s “Red Wings Reset” series, which analyzes the club’s 2022-23 roster and coaching staff, breaks down the leaders behind the bench.
On June 30, Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced that Derek Lalonde was named the 28th head coach in franchise history.
“I just think the timing of this, the growth and the things I’ve learned throughout the way, it’s perfect,” Lalonde said in his introductory press conference on July 1. “It’s time, and I’m very excited about this opportunity.” , the next challenge in my career.”
Video: Coach Derek Lalonde’s sit down interview with Ken Kal
Lalonde, 50, joins Detroit after spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he helped guide the club to four consecutive postseason berths and three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances, including back-to-back championships in 2019. -20 and 2020-21.
“The more I looked into it, the more I realized Derek was a really good fit for this job,” Yzerman said on July 1.“This is a great opportunity for us to bring in a coach with tremendous experience as a head coach at various levels and coaching as part of a very good staff and a very good program.”
Detroit’s bench also features associate coach Bob Boughner, assistant coach Jay Varady and goaltending coach Alex Westlund, who are all entering their first campaign with the Red Wings.
The 51-year-old Bougher, who was Detroit’s 32nd overall pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, spent the last two and a half seasons as head coach of the San Jose Sharks and was at the helm of the Florida Panthers from 2017-19. .
“One of the many boxes he checked was the eagerness to develop these guys, both on the ice and in the video room,” Lalonde said of Boughner on July 8. “He was ecstatic for the opportunity.”
Video: Derek Lalonde on Red Wings new coaching hires
Varady, 44, arrives in Detroit after spending the last four seasons in the Arizona Coyotes organization, including three seasons as the head coach of the club’s American Hockey League-affiliate Tucson Roadrunners from 2018-20 and 2021-22. And as for Westlund, the 46-year-old spent the past five seasons as an associate goaltending coach with the Washington Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears.
Returning from the Red Wings’ 2021-22 coaching staff are assistant coach Alex Tanguay, video coach LJ Scarpace and assistant video coach Jeff Weintraub.
For the past five weeks, DetroitRedWings.com broke down Detroit’s 2022-23 roster, position by position, and new-look coaching staff. Take a look at each installment:
Defensemen breakdown
Centermen breakdown
Left and right wing breakdown
Goalie breakdown
Coaching staff breakdown
.