‘Those Are Two Smart Coaches I Get To Learn From Every Day’: Lashoff Transitioning Well in Grand Rapids

On April 12, 2023, long-time Grand Rapids Griffins captain Brian Lashoff announced his retirement from playing hockey. In his exit interview with the media, Lashoff mentioned that working with the organization in the future is something he would love to do in his post-playing career.

Fast forward to June 26. The Griffins announce the hiring of Lashoff as an assistant coach.

Recently, Full Press sat down with Lashoff to discuss how he was handling the transition from player to coach.

Full Press Hockey: We’re about halfway through the season. How are you feeling like the transition from player to coach is going for you?

Brian Lashoff : It’s been good. It’s obviously been a learning process that started in the summer after retiring from playing. But, I’ve had a good support system around me from Dan and Steph. The coaching staff here and management in Detroit that have given me an opportunity to learn right away.

I think, over this early part of the season, it’s been a good transition. Like I said, I’ve learned a lot. Hopefully it’s been a good experience for the guys, especially the players that I played with last year. I know it’s definitely a different situation that not many of them probably will go through in their careers. But I’ve had a good relationship with them from playing with them, and then moving into coaching. So, it’s been a lot of similar things from being a captain and a leader on the team last year to moving into this role.

FPH: What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?

BL: I think number one is just communication. I think with the guys no matter where guys are at with their play, with where they’re at in their career, I think everybody needs some sort of communication at all times. I think Watty (Dan Watson) is a very good teacher for that for me. I get to watch him on a regular basis and how he handles guys.

I think there’s a lot of guys in different situations throughout the season. You just got to make sure that you’re on top of where they’re at, because everybody’s in a different spot in their career and with their play during the season.

So, being able to have a constant line of communication with them — to be there for them and help them — I think is that is the biggest thing as a coach.

FPH: What is it that you feel like you bring the most to the team as a coach?

BL: Well, I think my role and transitioning from a player to a coach is unique in a sense that I know that room pretty well. We have a lot of returning guys from last year. So, I know what has gone on here in the last year or two and how they feel.

I think especially you go through the season when you’re playing a lot of the same teams every night in your division. I think being able to help when it comes to that, but also just the temperament the room. The different personalities that we have in the room — me being a captain and a leader of the team last year — I definitely know a lot about each one of those guys. I think Watty and Steph learning them off out of the gates early on in the season is something that I hopefully I’ve done a good job at helping them kind of transition and learn a new group of players.

FPH: It’s a brand new coaching group this year. How do you feel the chemistry is with all of you?

BL: I think it’s been good. Obviously having, like I talked about, no different than coach to player, I think coaches to coaches that a constant line of communication is important so everyone knows what’s expected of them and helping each other as much as you can.

I think I walked into a great situation with Dan and Steph: two guys that are experienced coaches, both have been head coaches. And have been in my position coming out of playing and transitioning into being a coach.

So, I think they’ve definitely helped me a ton move into this role and made it a lot easier of a transition. And obviously, I’m here to learn as well. Those are two smart, smart coaches that I get to learn from every day.

FPH: One of duties as an assistant coach this season is running the penalty kill. What are you seeing from them and what do you think they’re capable of?

BL: I think the penalty kill has done a pretty good job all year. Structurally, I think a lot of good things have gone on throughout the season. I think most of all is getting some momentum lately. I think the kill over the last couple of weeks has been doing a very good job.

I was a penalty killer when I played. I think killing penalties is something that takes a lot of hard, hard work. But it can be a momentum builder for your team. I’ve seen a lot of a lot of guys take that role really seriously. And I think once you have that mixture of guys taking it seriously and having that role for themselves and want to excel at it, I think that’s when you see penalty kills go on long stretches of really good play.

 I’m happy with where it’s at right now. We’re just looking to continue to build, because obviously playing a team like Texas, you know who has a good power play. It’s it becomes a bigger challenge, but it makes it even more important.