Brian Lashoff

The Detroit Red Wings announced the hiring of Brian Lashoff as an assistant coach of the Griffins on June 26, 2023.

In his first season in the coaching ranks, 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.

The 34-year-old 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 12 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 has 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 also 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.