Brian Lashoff

The Detroit Red Wings announced the hiring of Brian Lashoff as an assistant coach of the Griffins on June 26, 2023 and he enters his fourth season in the position. 

Last campaign, Lashoff helped the Griffins reach the Central Division Finals for the second time in the past three years. In addition, he aided the team to a Central Division Title as well as a Western Conference championship during the regular season with a franchise-record 51-16-4-1 (.743) mark. The Griffins reached the 50-win mark in 2025-26 for the first time since 2005-06 and the 107 points were the fourth-most in franchise history. Grand Rapids enjoyed a franchise-record tying 15-game win streak from Nov. 22-Dec. 27, 2025, which tied for the sixth-longest run in AHL history. In addition, the Griffins’ 19-game point streak from Nov. 22, 2025-Jan. 7, 2026 (18-0-1-0), tied for the longest run in franchise history. The Griffins began the 2025-26 season with a 29-1-1-1 record and the 17-game point streak on the road from Oct. 10, 2025-Jan. 23, 2026 (15-0-1-1), set a new AHL record. Lashoff also led the team’s penalty kill to a 86% kill rate, which ranked first in the AHL during the regular season. In addition, Lashoff’s defense ranked first in the AHL with 2.21 goals per game during the regular season and allowed more than two goals just 25 times (34.7%).

In 2024-25, Lashoff aided the Griffins to a third-place finish in the Central Division with a 37-29-4-2 mark, reaching the division semifinals for the second straight year. In his first season in the coaching ranks in 2023-24, Lashoff helped guide the Griffins to their best finish since 2016-17, ending the season in second place in the Central Division with a 37-23-8-4 record and 86 points. He then helped the team reach the Central Division Finals for the first time since 2017.

Lashoff spent all or part of 14 seasons (2008-13; 2014-23) on the Griffins’ blue line during his playing career, including the final three years as the team’s captain, and seven campaigns (2012-15; 2016-20) with the Detroit Red Wings. Lashoff was a key component of Grand Rapids’ Calder Cup championship teams in both 2013 and 2017, joining Nathan Paetsch and Mitch Callahan as the franchise's only two-time cup champions. He served as a playing captain at the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic, marking his first career all-star nod, and he won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2010 World Junior Championship.

The Albany, New York, native ranks second on the Griffins’ all-time games played list with 628, compiling 132 points (32-100—132) and 329 penalty minutes. He’s one of only four defensemen and 13 skaters to record 100 career assists for Grand Rapids, and only two Griffins blueliners have tallied more than his 132 points (Richards 238, Paetsch 142).

Lashoff also contributed 20 points (5-15—20) and 34 PIM in 75 playoff games for Grand Rapids, marking the second-most postseason appearances in Griffins history (Paetsch 78). He ranks among the franchise’s all-time playoff leaders with two unassisted goals (T1st) and one shorthanded goal (T1st).

Lashoff became the 126th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he made his debut with Detroit on Jan. 21, 2013 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring a goal in the process. The defensemen accumulated 15 points (2-13—15) in 136 regular-season NHL games and logged another eight contests during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Including a three-game stint with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye during his first full pro season in 2010-11, Lashoff played his entire career within the Red Wings organization after making his pro debut with the Griffins in 2008-09 at the age of 18.

After playing junior hockey with Kingston and Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League, the undrafted Lashoff suited up for 767 professional regular-season games and registered 148 points (34-114—148) and 394 PIM.

Lashoff resides in Ada with his wife Nicolina and daughter Maeve.