Detroit Red Wings: 3 pressing questions for the 2023-24 season

Derek Lalonde’s second season in Detroit leaves room for questions.

It almost seems unfair to bring the coaching of the Detroit Red Wings into question, especially with a staff that has only spent one full season together. In addition to the questions surrounding players like Lucas Raymond and Jonatan Berggren taking the next step in offensive production and overall play, there are questions on whether Coach Derek Lalonde can take another step with the new weapons acquired as he heads into year two.

When initially given control of the lineup when he was hired, Lalonde improved the team’s overall play after being given a few toys to play with from Steve Yzerman in free agency.

This coming season is no different. Lalonde has been given a 40-goal scorer to add to his top offensive talents in captain Dylan Larkin and young hot shot Lucas Raymond. DeBrincat is not the end-all-be-all to the success of the Red Wings, but unfortunately, he will be looked towards to produce in the goals column until the cavalry arrives by way of prospects learning to play professionally in Grand Rapids.

That is a ton of pressure to be put on DeBrincat, who has played next to the likes of Patrick Kane in his career and has never truly been looked to as the main threat on a team’s top line. Can Derek Lalonde put him in situations where that pressure does not become too much to handle?

The success of the team may require the success of DeBrincat. That success undoubtedly requires success from the coaching staff to manipulate matchups and line configurations.