With 25 years of coaching experience, the Chicago Blackhawks hired Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Jeff Blashill for his second NHL head coaching gig. Chicago’s future has Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Artyom Levshunov, and more. Therefore, this job is an exciting opportunity for Blashill, who spent seven seasons with the Detroit Red Wings from 2015-22 as the bench boss.
Related: 3 Lightning Targets at 59th Overall in the 2025 NHL Draft
Despite Blashill’s great opportunity, the Lightning are left with a vacant role in their coaching staff heading into the summer of 2025. However, there are plenty of good candidates out there to fill the position. Let’s explore some early options to replace the Lightning’s assistant coach.
Derek Lalonde
The first option for an assistant coach replacement is a familiar face. Detroit fired Derek Lalonde mid-season (Dec. 26) and replaced him with Todd McLellan. Before his head coaching position in Detroit, Lalonde was an assistant coach on Jon Cooper’s staff in Tampa Bay for four seasons from 2018-22. He helped Tampa Bay reach three Stanley Cup Finals and win two Stanley Cup championships.
With Lalonde out of work, a reunion in Tampa Bay is one of the best options available. After all, his climb up the ranks to become an NHL coach is unbelievable. He started as an assistant coach for Division 1 college hockey, followed by working his way up through major junior and minor league teams, even winning the United States Hockey League (USHL) title with the Green Bay Gamblers in his first season as a head coach in 2011-22. In summary, the track record of success and familiarity when Lalonde was with the organization make him an intriguing option for the Lightning next season if he’s interested in returning.
Drew Bannister
Drew Bannister is another coach who’s worked hard to get to the head coaching position at the NHL level. He got promoted to an interim head coach role for the St. Louis Blues in 2023-24, where he posted a record of 30-19-5, turning the Blues’ season around. However, he lost his job the following fall to Jim Montgomery after St. Louis got off to a sluggish 9-12-1 under his expertise. Despite Montgomery completely transforming the Blues, Bannister has the potential to be a good coach in the league one day.
Under the guidance of one of the best in Cooper, Bannister can learn…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…