Montreal — Derek Lalonde has been with the Tampa Bay organization the last four seasons and won two Stanley Cups and a Presidents’ Trophy during his time as a Lighting assistant coach.
As a first-year head coach of the Red Wings, there isn’t going to be a Stanley Cup or trophy for the NHL’s best regular-season record this season.
There’s been more losses than Lalonde has been used to, a sell-off at the trade deadline, and injuries have hurt the lineup throughout the season.
But for all the disappointments, Lalonde likes where the Wings’ organization is at and what the future could hold.
“I have no problem admitting this has been extremely difficult,” Lalonde said. “The way we were trending pre (trade) deadline — and I’m going to sound repetitive on this — a handful of days before the deadline we’d won seven of eight (games) and we were above the playoff line and we had games in hand. We were in such a good position, and then within a week — and we did the right thing 100% with what we’re up against in this division — but within one week we literally flipped out through injury and trade six or seven core guys.”
Since the trade deadline, Lalonde has been consistently preaching to his team about the need to maintain positive, winning habits, while building momentum for next season and using this time for young prospects, such as Simon Edvinsson and Marco Kasper, to get acclimated to the NHL.
More: Red Wings see benefits of young players tasting victory, despite longer lottery odds
All the while, the Wings have been able to win some games and avoid completely falling down the standings.
“We have an exciting core,” Lalonde said. “Yes, it’s been very difficult because as a coach we want it now. But at the same time, I’ve been happy. It’s been fairly rewarding of late.”
The Wings went into Tuesday’s game having won three of their last four games, the three games against playoff contenders Pittsburgh, Carolina and Toronto.
“Our guys have bought in and are being competitive, so it’s been very rewarding,” Lalonde said.
There’s about six months before training camp begins for the 2023-24 season, and there likely will be personnel changes on the roster. But, also, the expectations are likely to be a little higher for the Wings.
Lalonde said next season will be a “fresh start.”
“Our goalie coach said it perfectly the other day. This year we started on the goal line and next year we’ll be at the 50-yard line,” Lalonde said. “For me, it made sense. We have a long way to go, and we’re still a product of our division, as (general manager) Steve (Yzerman) mentioned at the trade deadline. It’s one thing to have Boston, Toronto and Tampa in your division, but what Ottawa, Buffalo and even Montreal are doing and where they’re in their rebuild and their talent, it’s just that those teams have drafted higher, and more, than us.
“We have to work to do. To say where we’re going to be next year, I don’t know. Expectations will change a little bit. But it’ll still be a lot of work.”
Kasper unavailable
Kasper, incidentally, after making his NHL debut Sunday, was unavailable Tuesday in Montreal because of a lower-body injury.
It sounds as if the Wings were being mostly precautionary.
“I don’t think this will be long and we hope to have him for Thursday (against Buffalo),” Lalonde said. “He will see game action again this year, just not (Tuesday). I would have loved to have played him. I want to play him every game. All these games are just so valuable for players like that.”
Kasper was disappointed but understood the decision.
“For sure I would have loved to play, but unfortunately it’s not working out,” Kasper said. “We’ll take it day by day and we’ll see.”
Many fans are already wondering about next season and how Kasper fits into the lineup. Many things can happen before training camp, but Lalonde would be willing to consider having Kasper, who’ll be 19 later this week, in the lineup.
“You certainly hope so but that’s a lot to ask,” Lalonde said. “You know as an organization we’ve been very patient with those things and rightfully so. It will probably depend on his summer and approach next year, but I love young players and will give him every opportunity.
“But that’s a long ways away.”
Ice chips
Goaltender Ville Husso was back starting in net Tuesday after missing the last two weeks. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, who was recalled from Grand Rapids on an emergency basis, will be reassigned to the Griffins with Husso available.
Whether Nedeljkovic remains with the Wings or return to Grand Rapids for the last 10 days of the season is unclear.
… Lalonde kiddingly asked camera people not to film his sneakers (appeared to be dressy slip-ons), which got vocally put down in the locker room.
“The boys said I looked like their middle school gym teacher,” Lalonde said. “I took a little bit of a beating from the boys.”
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan