from Nate Brown of Detroit Hockey Now,

Derek Lalonde & Jeff Halpern
Lalonde was already popping up in previous iterations of the DHN updates but now Friedman is adding another name: Jeff Halpern. Freidman seems to think both Lalonde and Halpern are the logical picks for Detroit but cautions it by saying: “Until Steve Yzerman closes the book, don’t close the book.”

Either Tampa Bay assistant wouldn’t be surprising as both have ties to Yzerman’s previous organization. Halpern started cutting his teeth shortly after his playing days ended as an assistant with the Syracuse Crunch, the Bolts’ AHL affiliate.

In Tampa Bay, he’s worked his way up and could seemingly be ready to take over as a head coach. Halpern’s advantage is being in charge of both the forwards and the power play. With experience working at the AHL and NHL level, Halpern certainly fits the bill for developing young and coming talent. Not to mention he could help fix a Detroit power play that has struggled mightily for years.

Descriptions are calling Lalonde the “yin” to Jon Cooper’s “yang” and he seems the likelier of the two to be ascending from an assistant coach to the bench boss. Responsible for the penalty kill and being the eye in the sky, Lalonde would presumably shore up the side of the ice Yzerman was most concerned about: defense.

Bowness A Possibiility?
While on the Tampa kick, one other name to potentially watch is one time Tampa assistant and former Dallas head coach Rick Bowness. Yzerman spoke of his comfort working with those he knows, and Bowness’s time in Tampa certainly intersects with Yzerman’s years with the Bolts. Working for trusted friend Nill in Dallas, and guiding the Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 also helps.

Though there hasn’t been any linking to Bowness, he might be an under-the-radar look should Yzerman not tap someone else.

more and more names...