Insider Names Next NHL Coach On Verge of Getting Fired

A lame-duck coach in the final year of his contract, with a team that's off to a disappointing start to the season, will always be on thin ice. According to insider Darren Dreger on TSN's Insider Trading, Detroit Red Wings bench boss Derek Lalonde is that lame-duck coach who might not survive the week.

They sure could (be the next team to make a change behind the bench)... Detroit needs to, wants to, is counting on staying in the playoff mix. They're only three points out of a Wild Card spot (and) They have a huge three-game homestand coming up.
They have to remain competitive. So if they have a good homestand, everything should be fine. If they don't, that might force (team president) Steve Yzerman to make a decision (on Lalonde). The sense is that they would go with an internal candidate and then hope that a top coach eventually becomes available.

The fact that there's even a discussion about “going with an internal candidate” to potentially replace Lalande tells you all you need to know about the head coach's status.

And this upcoming 3-game homestand that Dreger referred to will be no walk in the park for the Wings, as they host the Calgary Flames, the New Jersey Devils and the Vancouver Canucks, who sport a combined 37-20-8 record. No easy task for Lalonde and his troops.

The Red Wings are 9-10-2 this season, in 6th spot in the Atlantic. Yes, they're only three points out of a Wild Card spot, as Dreger mentioned, but there are four other teams they'd have to leapfrog first.

It sounds like Derek Lalonde’s days could be numbered.