It has been a while since Hockey Town has had a reason to celebrate the Red Wings and now they have hired a coach who is used to celebrating often.

Get our free mobile app

Detroit Red Wings Hire New Head Coach

MediaNews Group via Getty Images
MediaNews Group via Getty Images
loading...

The Detroit Red Wings have been struggling since the 2015 - 2016 season. The team has been rebuilding for years in hopes of getting to where they need to be have hired a new head coach.

Andrea Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images
Andrea Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images
loading...

Derek Lalonde has worked as the assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning for the past four seasons alongside head coach Jon Cooper. In those 4 years, the two have taken the Lightning to the Stanley Cup 3 times winning twice. Unfortunately loosing to Colorado just last week.

Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images
Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images
loading...

It's not often an NHL team hires an assistant coach that has only been in the league for 4 years but Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has confidence that Lalonde is more than capable of handling the job.

Lalonde is no stranger to being a successful head coach, he coached Green Bay to a USHL championship. He won two division titles for the Toledo Walleye in the ECHL. He also coached the AHLs Iowa Wild leading the team to their first winning record.

Lalonde actually got his first coaching gig as an assistant at Ferris State University from 2002-2006 then moved on to the University of Denver from 2006 - 2011.

Derek Lalonde Has His Work Cut Out As Red Wings Head Coach

Rich Giraessle/Getty Images
Rich Giraessle/Getty Images
loading...

It has been six years since the Red Wings have seen the playoffs and that is a big drought for Hockey Town. It has been even longer since the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. You have to go back to 2008 when the Red Wings beat the Pittsburg Penguins 4-2 in the series.

MORE: Top 6 Moments of Nicklas Lidstrom's Career

MORE: Michigan's Greatest Sports Traditions

Part of the allure of sports is the sense of tradition, and these Michigan traditions are something that fans look forward to every year.

More From 97.9 WGRD