The Detroit Red Wings made the move many expected when it was announced that head coach Jeff Blashill would not return for the 2022-23 season. Blashill had been behind the Red Wings bench for seven years prior to the announcement but had seen little in the way of success. Now, Detroit seeks the perfect bench boss to continue defenseman Moritz Seider's and forward Dylan Larkin's development, and lead the team into the future.
While speculation flies about potential names to step behind the Wings bench, general manager Steve Yzerman is keeping a tight lid on his team's coaching search. His Red Wings are normally leak-proof, with any leaks coming prior to a move being made, if a leak occurs at all.
With little word on the Red Wings' progress through their coaching search likely to come, let's take a look at three of the best candidates on the market for Yzerman to choose from.
3 best candidates to be Red Wings head coach
3) David Quinn
David Quinn is the lone candidate we know of so far who has actually interviewed for the position. Quinn was most recently head coach of the New York Rangers. The 55-year-old went 96-87-25 from 2018 to 2021, when Quinn was fired. The Rangers made one postseason appearance under Quinn's auspices but were swept in the 2020 Qualifying Round by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Coaching updates, per sources:
> #Blackhawks have sought permission to intvw #GoHabsGo Luke Richardson & #Canucks Brad Shaw. Derek King still a strong candidate.
> David Quinn intvw'ing w #LGRW & #Flyers
> #Flyers intvw'd Jeff Blashill, believe Bruce Cassidy also on their list.— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 9, 2022
One thing Quinn has going for him is his experience with youth. He was an assistant coach with Northeastern, Nebraska-Omaha, and Boston University. He won the national championship with BU in 2009. After leaving BU following the national championship, he returned in 2013 to serve as head coach.
His Rangers teams also had a lot of younger players, namely top draft picks Alexis Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko. He was tasked with developing these players and guiding the Rangers into playoff contention. It's a toss-up whether the 55-year-old succeeded in that goal. The Rangers have done immensely better under Gerard Gallant this season, however it can be argued that Quinn laid the foundation for that success.
With Detroit's bevy of young prospects either in the NHL or on the doorstep, Quinn's experience with younger players may be attractive to Yzerman. However, the trade-off there is that what Quinn carries in experience dealing with younger players, he lacks in established NHL success. Can Quinn take a team building for the future and lead them to the promised land? Yzerman may feel compelled to give the 55-year-old a chance.
2) Barry Trotz
Trotz was surprisingly let go by the New York Islanders after a disappointing season in which the team failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This came after Trotz led the Islanders to consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference Final. Trotz brings both experience and a Stanley Cup pedigree with him wherever he goes.
The 59-year-old coach spent time with the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals prior to his time on Long Island. It was with the Capitals where he would win his first Stanley Cup, defeating the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Trotz left the Capitals that offseason due to a contract dispute.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Trotz and Detroit have had some communication about the vacancy. And it's easy to see why the Red Wings are interested in the 59-year-old. His defense-first style would be a welcomed sight for a team that has struggled defensively the last few years. They are building a young core of defensemen with the likes of Seider and Simon Edvinsson who are seen as potentially game-changing blue-liners.
The big questions lay in whether Detroit may be willing to commit more to a defensive game rather than striking a balance between offense and defense. And can they afford to have such reservations if they want to begin turning the corner sooner rather than later? Trotz's success and experience may be too useful for Detroit to pass up on.
1) Derek Lalonde
Lalonde may not be the most familiar name to Red Wings fans, but he is definitely a familiar name to Steve Yzerman. Yzerman hired the 49-year-old as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018 and knows him rather well.
The Lightning have won two consecutive Stanley Cups with Lalonde on the coaching staff. He is currently gunning for a third consecutive championship as they take on the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. Success isn't new to the 49-year-old. His experience with such a successful program is something that can help a younger team get through the growing pains of a rebuild.
However, what Lalonde lacks is experience as an NHL head coach. He has been a head coach at various levels previously. He was even head coach of the Toledo Walleye, Detroit's ECHL affiliate, from 2014-16. Yet, the NHL is a different animal entirely. Can Lalonde make a successful transition from being an assistant coach himself? Is Yzerman willing to hire a coach without NHL head coaching experience, despite how well he knows the candidate?
Lalonde looks to be a head coach in the NHL someday, and it would benefit the Red Wings to be the team that gives him his first shot at it.
The bottom line is, each of these candidates brings their own pros and cons. They each would benefit the Red Wings immensely in helping develop the young potential stars of Detroit and turn the corner on what's proven to be a painful rebuild.
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