"The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Derek Lalonde on June 6th, 2025, after Lane Lambert left to become the head coach of the Seattle Kraken. Lambert had done an exceptional job with the Maple Leafs' defensive core, turning them into a top-five group in the NHL. When Lambert left to go to the Kraken, the Maple Leafs had a hole to fix. Enter Lalonde."
"Many people were skeptical of the hire. Nobody was sure how it would go. He had done a good job with the Tampa Bay Lightning, as they won multiple Stanley Cups during his tenure. However, when he moved to become the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, everything changed. The Red Wings failed to make the playoffs while being led by Derek Lalonde, and had a record of 89-86-23 over two and a half seasons."
"Since the beginning of the season, the Leafs have been able to kill penalties effectively, something they haven't been able to do in years past. The Leafs currently sit third in the NHL for penalty kill percentage at 84%. Lalonde has also been able to make star forwards play effectively on the PK. Auston Matthews and William Nylander have both been able to put in serviceable minutes and be more well-rounded players."
Derek Lalonde was hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs on June 6, 2025 to replace Lane Lambert, who left for the Seattle Kraken after building a top-five defensive core. Lalonde entered with a mixed NHL head-coaching record: Stanley Cup success with Tampa Bay but a disappointing 89-86-23 stint in Detroit that missed the playoffs. Early Toronto results included severe defensive struggles and the most goals allowed in the league. Over time the team tightened defensively, produced some of the best defensive games of the Matthews era, and improved the penalty kill to 84%, with Matthews and Nylander contributing effectively on the PK.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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