New Lightning assistant coach Derek Lalonde is a long-time friend of Jon Cooper and Detroit Red Wings’ coach Jeff Blashill. Joe Smith went in depth at The Athletic on their background together including an annual golf outing in Michigan that features the three coaches and several other prominent hockey people.
The article also contained a small nugget on Lalonde’s role:
When Lightning GM Steve Yzerman shook up his coaching staff in June, letting go of veteran associate coach Rick Bowness and assistant Brad Lauer, he said they desired some “new, fresh voices.