3 reasons why Detroit Red Wings firing HC Derek Lalonde won't be enough to make Hockeytown a playoff contender feat. second-worst PK

The Detroit Red Wings fired Derek Lalonde as head coach on Thursday, ending an era that promised to return the Wings to playoff contention. While the Red Wings got close last season, the club has failed to meet expectations this season.

The new sheriff in town, Todd McLellan, brings a wealth of experience and hockey smarts. However, there are three reasons why the Detroit Red Wings firing Derek Lalonde won’t be enough to turn the club into a playoff contender, at least this season.

3 reasons why Detroit Red Wings firing Derek Lalonde won’t be enough to turn things around

#3 Inconsistent scoring

A concerning trend has been the inconsistency with which the Detroit Red Wings’ scoring dries up seemingly in an instant. There have been games in which Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, and Moritz Seider go unnoticed.

Worst of all, it’s not that these players have bad luck or face hot goalies, it’s that they simply disappear. Collectively, the group had failed to get more than half a dozen shots on goal on several occasions.

That sort of situation is not something a coaching change can fix. Of course, the new coach bump is a real thing. However, the problem goes beyond a new voice behind the bench. It may take the rest of this season to figure out what’s needed to turn the ship around.

#2 Subpar goaltending

Cam Talbot has had a decent year for the Detroit Red Wings. He’s put up six wins and a shutout to go with a 2.79 GAA and a .912 SV% in 18 games this season.

Meanwhile, backup Alex Lyon has been steady as far as backups go. He’s got five wins and a shutout to go with a 3.09 GAA and a .894 SV%.

Just by looking at the numbers, it’s evident that the Red Wings don’t have a goalie capable of stealing a game when the scoring dries up. That situation means the Wings will either have to play better in front of their netminders or they’ll have to get a true, number-one goaltender who can potentially steal games.

Unfortunately, until the goaltending situation straightens itself out, there will continue to be some frustrating games in Detroit.

#1 Second-worst penalty kill in the league

The Detroit Red Wings have the second-worst penalty kill in the league at 68.8%. While the Wing’s power play is ranked 11th in the league at 22.4%, the devastatingly low penalty kill can easily derail any sort of gains the power play can make.

The penalty kill is part of a larger, structural issue that highlights the poor defensive play the Wings have shown this season. The Wings are 25th in the league with a 3.27 GAA. Except for the Colorado Avalanche, the Wings are barely ahead of other bottom-feeding teams like the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Unless that poor defensive play changes, there won’t be any realistic chance for the Wings to make the playoffs, much less escape the cellar in the Atlantic Division.