Canadiens hire Derek Lalonde as associate coach with Stanley Cup pedigree
Former Detroit head coach brings more than 20 years of experience, including back-to-back Tampa Bay Cup wins as assistant.
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The Montreal Canadiens have hired Derek Lalonde as an associate coach, the team announced Monday, July 20.
Lalonde, 53, spent last season as an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs after serving as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings from 2022 to 2024. He brings over 20 years of coaching experience across multiple leagues, including stops in the American Hockey League, ECHL, and USHL.
Prior to Detroit, Lalonde was an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning, helping the club win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
The Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference final last season before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games. The team opens the 2026–27 regular season on September 29 against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
The facts
Who did the Canadiens hire as associate coach?
Derek Lalonde, 53, was hired as an associate coach by the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, July 20, 2026.
What is Lalonde's Stanley Cup experience?
Derek Lalonde was an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning when the team won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
