Red Wings fire head coach Derek Lalonde, Todd McLellan takes over

The Detroit Red Wings fired coach Derek Lalonde on Thursday and named Todd McLellan as his replacement.

The move the day after Christmas was announced by general manager Steve Yzerman and comes with the Red Wings on a three-game skid and having lost nine of their past 12. They’ve lost 21 of their first 34 games this season and are above only the lowly Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference.

Assistant Bob Boughner was also fired and Trent Yawney was hired to work on McLellan’s staff. McLellan signed a multi-year contract to start his fourth NHL head coaching job after stints with San Jose, Edmonton and Los Angeles.

Lalonde was nearly midway through his third season with Detroit after winning the Stanley Cup twice as an assistant with Tampa Bay.