todd mclellan

Todd McLellan was named coach of the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

The 57-year-old, who signed a multiyear contract, replaces Derek Lalonde, who was fired after three seasons.

"I've never been in this situation before," McLellan said Friday. "I've been the guy kicked out the door, unfortunately, but I've never come in at this time. I know I can't overreact, over-teach and over-meet with the players -- it would just be too much."

McLellan, who coached the Los Angeles Kings last season before being fired on Feb. 2, is 598-412-134 in 1,144 regular-season games with the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers and Kings, and 42-46 in 88 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He ranks sixth among active coaches in wins, behind Paul Maurice (891), Lindy Ruff (876), Peter Laviolette (823), John Tortorella (757) and Pete DeBoer (632).

McLellan was 164-130-44 in five seasons with the Kings, who qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2022 and 2023, losing to the Oilers in the first round each time.

McLellan was also an assistant coach with the Red Wings from 2005-08, winning the Stanley Cup with them in 2008.

The Red Wings also fired associate coach Bob Boughner on Thursday and named Trent Yawney an assistant. He served in the same role under McLellan with the Kings from 2019-24.

"It's been a frustrating start to the season, we're just missing something," Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. "This is something you don't want to happen. I really like Derek and 'Boogs' as guys, but it felt like something needed to happen. Now we move forward and we had a great first day with Todd."

Lalonde, 52, was 89-86-23 in 198 games with the Red Wings. He came to Detroit after four seasons as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning and helped them win the Stanley Cup twice (2020, 2021).

Detriot Red Wings part ways with Derek Lalonde

The Red Wings (13-17-4) are seventh in the Atlantic Division and have lost three straight games. They next play the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, SNO, TVAS).

Entering Thursday, the Red Wings ranked 29th in goals per game (2.56), 25th in goals against per game (3.26) and 31st on the penalty kill (68.8 percent).

The Red Wings have not made the playoffs since the 2015-16 season. The eight-season playoff drought is the longest in team history and followed 25 straight seasons of qualifying for the postseason.

Detroit finished tied in points with the Washington Capitals for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference last season but lost on a tiebreaker.

"It is never a good thing when a coach is released and a new one comes in, and the timing on this is awkward too," McLellan said Friday. "Because of Christmas and stuff, we don't get a practice and we're going to play hockey tonight. Trent Yawney and Todd McLellan aren't coming in here and waving a wand to change the forecheck, the neutral zone system, the D-zone coverage and the power play. We just don't have time. What we've asked the players is to play harder, play faster and play a little bit smarter.

"It's going to take Trent and I five, six or seven games to really figure out individuals, and it will take them that long to figure us out. Everyone is going to play while we figure that out and then we can take a look and see where we are."

Lalonde is the fourth NHL coach fired this season, joining Jim Montgomery (Boston Bruins, Nov. 19), Drew Bannister (St. Louis Blues, Nov. 24) and Luke Richardson (Chicago Blackhawks, Dec. 5).

NHL.com independent correspondent Dave Hogg contributed to this report

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