Lalonde Clear About 2024-25 Mandate: Reduce Red Wings GAA

Coach Derek Lalonde didn’t need a deep dive into his team’s analytics to tell him what the Detroit Red Wings need to accomplish in 2024-25.

“I think the numbers speak for themselves,” Lalonde said. “We were a top 10 team in goals-for, but we were a bottom-10 team in goals-against. So we’d love to improve that goals-against.”

Lalonde made his remarks when he was attending the Street Hockey in the D: Summer Series. More than 300 participants across Detroit take part in the clinics.

The third-year Detroit coach said he like the moves GM Steve Yzerman made last month, including re-signing Patrick Kane, and signing veteran forward Vladimir Tarasenko and goalie Cam Talbot.

“I think we did a good job of addressing some holes,” Lalonde said. “It feels like guys are maybe slotted going into the year a little bit. I think we did a good job addressing some lost offense, which is very important. It’s just exciting. All I’ve known here since I’ve come here is some progression. We’ve moved in the right direction from Year One into Year Two. We did it going into the second year. Now we need to keep building.”

The Red Wings fell one point short of qualifying for the playoffs last season. But maintaining the momentum for improvement will not be an easy task, considering that they were 24th in goals-against per game (3.33). No team in the bottom 10 in that category qualified for the playoffs.

Playoffs Start With ‘D’

By contrast, nine of the teams ranked in top 10 in goals-against qualified for the playoffs.

Yzerman said in a postseason press conference that the onus is on both the players and coaches to square away their goals-against average.

“I just feel that the teams in the end, it all looks the same,” Lalonde said. “They put a premium on keeping the puck out of the net. It’ll be a goal of ours and we’re gonna need it from everyone. I just think even the natural DNA of our players, we want to score goals, we need those goals but I think it’s very important if you’re gonna get there in the end where we want to be, we gotta keep it out of the net.”

That means tighter defense from defensemen and forwards, plus more consistent goaltending. The Red Wings had many quality starts from their goaltending. However, overall the Red Wings’ goaltending was slightly below average.

Goalie Race Wide Open

Just like last season, the Red Wings will have three goaltenders vying for playing time. Based on last season’s effort for Los Angeles, Talbot is a threat to emerge as the No. 1 goalie. Detroit also has a fourth goalie with NHL experience — Jack Campbell — on the roster to play — or at least start — in Grand Rapids.

“I think that’s gonna be a healthy competition,” Lalonde said.

The defense will have a new look because Jake Walman (traded to San Jose) and Shayne Gostisbehere (signed with Carolina) are gone. Red Wings youngsters Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson are expected to make the team. Plus Yzerman signed William Lagesson who has 100 games of NHL experience. Justin Holl is also slated to play more this season.

There’s undoubtedly more pressure on Lalonde and his coaches and players to improve their defensive play.

“Expectations will change, which is good,” Lalonde said. “It’s all part of the process. Expectations change because we flirted with getting there, 91 points. We just want a little bit more from everyone. It’s going to be all about a good start.”