In what is being seen as a curious career move, Derek Lalonde has left the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers for the Toledo Walleye in the ECHL.
Lalonde is expected to be named as the new Walleye Head Coach today at a press conference in Toledo.
In his first season with Green Bay, his first as a head coach, Lalonde led the team to a Clark Cup championship and was named the USHL coach of the year. The Gamblers have also qualified for the playoffs the past two seasons under his leadership.
While Lalonde has certainly experienced success in the USHL, his win totals have gone down the last two seasons compared to his first season.
While Toledo is affiliated with two NHL teams, they did not have much success last season either, finishing the season with a 21-44-7 record.
With the Detroit Red Wings Head Coaching uncertainty heading into the 2015-2016 season, and Jeff Blashill waiting in the wings in Grand Rapids, some are saying that this is Lalonde’s play for an AHL interview if he can have immediate success in Toledo.
While Lalonde leaves at an inopportune time, tryout camps are quickly approaching. Sources are saying that continuity will be there as Associate Head Coach Pat Mikesch is expected to be named as Lalonde’s successor.
TJHN will update this story as more information becomes available.
