Amid busy offseason, Lalonde looking forward to Red Wings’ 2024-25 campaign

DETROIT -- During an extremely busy NHL offseason, Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde said he enjoys every aspect of his hockey-filled life.

Less than a month after completing his second season behind the Red Wings’ bench, Lalonde served as an assistant coach with Team USA at the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship, which was held May 10-26 in Czechia.

Lalonde, who served in the same capacity with the U.S. last summer, said coaching on an international stage is an incredible privilege.

“Overall, an unbelievable experience to represent your country,” Lalonde recently told DetroitRedWings.com. “The staff and players were a great group of guys. I’ve said this all along: I never say no to USA Hockey. I’m glad I went again this year.”

The U.S. Men’s National Team’s medal hopes ended with a 1-0 shutout loss to Czechia in the quarterfinals on May 23. The Americans wrapped up the international tournament with a 5-0-1-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record, placing fifth out of 16 countries.  

“This year was obviously different than last, when we went undefeated until the semifinals,” Lalonde said. “We just got a really bad draw (this year), so I feel for the guys because the buy-in of doing the right thing and playing the right way were there.”

Lalonde said he believes his Worlds experience this year helped him grow as an NHL head coach.

“A lot of personal growth,” Lalonde said. “Watching other coaches operate, understanding their process and learning things from them. Also learning things from the players.”

Five current players representing the Red Wings organization – forward Lucas Raymond, defensemen Jeff Petry and Olli Maatta, goalie Alex Lyon and goaltender prospect Trey Augustine – suited up for their respective countries at Worlds. Detroit goaltending coach Alex Westlund also worked alongside Lalonde on Team USA’s coaching staff.

“Last year, I spent a ton of time with our Red Wings guys,” Lalonde said. “This year was a little bit different because the event was more spread out. I did get to spend some time with Lucas. I didn’t get to see Olli because we were in opposite cities, but getting to spend time with the other guys on Team USA was great.”

Raymond enjoyed a breakout 2023-24 season with Detroit, setting career-highs in goals (31) assists (41) and points (72) in 82 games. The 22-year-old forward continued to shine at Worlds with Team Sweden, recording nine points (four goals, five assists) in 10 games and helping lead the Swedes to a bronze medal as an alternate captain.

Lalonde said he was pleased Raymond carried over his regular-season success into Worlds.

“I think he’s going to continue to take steps,” Lalonde said about Raymond. “Obviously he found something in his training last summer, especially his growth physically. He came back a different athlete and was rewarded for it. You hope he’ll take the same approach this year and take more strides.”

Lalonde said he believes the Red Wings can take another big step forward in the 2024-25 season.

“We’re going to ask our guys to continue to make strides too and I think they expect the same of us,” Lalonde said. “We don’t really turn it off. We’ll have some down time, but we’re all still working to be better.”

Looking ahead to the rest of his summer, Lalonde said he hopes to spend as much time as he can with his wife, Melissa, and their three children – Alex, Luke and Abby.

The Red Wings’ head coach said he was extremely proud when the Sioux City Musketeers selected Luke Lalonde with the 237th overall pick in Phase 2 of the 2024 USHL Draft on May 7.

“I was awake for it (in Czechia) in the wee hours of the morning,” Lalonde said about the 2024 USHL Draft. “I knew (Luke) was watching it closely because he was right on the potential brink of getting drafted. He had a really strong Little Caesars AAA Hockey team, most of his teammates were getting drafted. Emotional ups and downs with it, but he was very excited and appreciative that he did get drafted.”

Watching his son chase his dreams is a special feeling for Lalonde, who is also helping high school student-athletes in northern New York pursue their academic and athletic careers. The Lalonde Family Initiative, a non-profit organization established by the second-year NHL head coach’s family, recently announced the launch of the Lalonde Family Athletic Scholarship.

Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, two $10,000 scholarships and one $20,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to benefit students at St. Lawrence Central High School in Brasher Falls, N.Y., where Lalonde and several of his family members went.  

“I’m here as an NHL head coach, but I had to start somewhere,” Lalonde said. “I didn’t pay off my college loans until my mid-30s, which was a legit burden. I had hand-me-down goalie equipment in high school and the first time I had new equipment was in college. To have those experiences to battle through and understanding what it meant, my family is ecstatic to be able to start this initiative. I feel very fortunate and connected to this, having grown up in a small-town community.”