Derek Laxdal

Derek Laxdal (born February 21, 1966) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional right winger.

Derek Laxdal
Born	(1966-02-21) February 21, 1966 (age 59) Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs New York Islanders Ilves Humberside Hawks Nottingham Panthers Sheffield Steelers
Current AHL coach	Coachella Valley Firebirds
Coached for	Idaho Steelheads Edmonton Oil Kings Texas Stars Oshawa Generals
NHL draft	151st overall, 1984 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	1984–2001

On July 5, 2024, he became head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League, following two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League Oshawa Generals.^[1][2] In his last season with the Generals, they were OHL finalists, leading the Eastern Division in the regular season, and losing to Memorial Cup runner ups, the London Knights. His return to the head coaching role came after three seasons as assistant coach of the NHL Dallas Stars.

Playing career

Born and raised in Stonewall, Manitoba, Laxdal was drafted in the eighth round, 151st overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He completed his second season in the WHL, having joined the 1983 Memorial Cup champion Portland Winter Hawks in his rookie season (which was also spent in the AJHL with the Red Deer Rebels), and then with Brandon Wheat Kings in his home province. He played 67 games in the National Hockey League: 51 over four seasons with the Maple Leafs, and 16 more over two seasons with the New York Islanders. In an almost 20-year career, he scored points at every level, including a successful four-year stint in the UK between 1995/96 and 1998/99, where he played for the Humberside Hawks (British League), Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers (Ice Hockey Superleague). He also played in the 1986 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships for Canada, where Canada were silver medalists.

Coaching career

From December 10, 2019, until May 20, 2022, Laxdal was an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. From 2014 to 2019, he was the head coach of the American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, the Texas Stars.^[3][4] Previously, he served as head coach of the WHL Edmonton Oil Kings (2010–2014), the ECHL Idaho Steelheads (2005–2010), and in the former Central Hockey League, the Wichita Thunder (2002–2005). In 2007, he was the ECHL John Brophy Coach of the Year, leading the Steelheads to the Kelly Cup championship in the 2006–07 season.^[5] He led the Edmonton Oil Kings to WHL titles in 2012 and 2014, winning the 2014 Memorial Cup with the Oil Kings. He was the first coach in the history of the WHL to have three 50-win seasons in a row. Before playing in the UK, he was an assistant playing coach in Roanoke, and in Odessa in his final playing years.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1982–83	Portland Winter Hawks	WHL		39	4	9	13	27		14	0	2	2	2
1983–84	Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL		70	23	20	43	86		12	0	4	4	10
1984–85	Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL		69	61	41	102	74		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		3	0	0	0	6		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	St. Catharines Saints	AHL		5	3	2	5	2		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL		42	34	35	69	62		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	New Westminster Bruins	WHL		18	9	6	15	14		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	St. Catharines Saints	AHL		7	0	1	1	15		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		2	0	0	0	7		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Newmarket Saints	AHL		78	24	20	44	69		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		5	0	0	0	6		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Newmarket Saints	AHL		67	18	25	43	81		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		41	9	6	15	65		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Newmarket Saints	AHL		34	22	22	44	53		2	0	2	2	5
1989–90	Newmarket Saints	AHL		23	7	8	15	52		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	New York Islanders	NHL		12	3	1	4	4		1	0	2	2	2
1989–90	Springfield Indians	AHL		28	13	12	25	42		13	8	6	14	47
1990–91	New York Islanders	NHL		4	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Capital District Islanders	AHL		65	14	25	39	75		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Capital District Islanders	AHL		49	7	7	14	61		4	1	1	2	10
1993–94	Ilves	SM-l		17	6	5	11	20		3	1	0	1	4
1994–95	Roanoke Express	ECHL		66	32	24	56	144		8	2	4	6	25
1995–96	Humberside Hawks	BHL		33	29	29	58	163		7	9	4	13	16
1996–97	Nottingham Panthers	BISL		31	14	14	28	54		8	1	3	4	27
1997–98	Nottingham Panthers	BISL		44	24	23	47	103		6	1	3	4	10
1998–99	Sheffield Steelers	BISL		29	9	13	22	32		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Sheffield Steelers	BISL		18	3	3	6	20		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Odessa Jackalopes	WPHL		46	28	25	53	53		2	0	4	4	4
2000–01	Odessa Jackalopes	WPHL		65	21	23	44	103		11	5	3	8	31
AHL totals				356	108	122	230	450		31	10	10	20	86
NHL totals				67	12	7	19	88		1	0	2	2	2