Detroit Red Wings Potential Hire of Jeff Blashill Will Energize Team
By Joe Chapp
The Detroit Red Wings will reportedly hire Jeff Blashill some time within the week. So what does that mean for the Red Wings going forward? Do they go younger, and have players like Anthony Mantha, Dylan Larkin or Tomas Nosek on the team next year? I doubt it.
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Let’s examine this more closely though, many of the Red Wings players on the current roster have played for Blashill. Many won the Calder Cup with him as well. It’s among popular belief that every coach has a shelf life of 6-10 years in one market, mainly in pro sports. It’s very rare for a coach to last longer than that.
Babcock leaving Detroit was best for both parties, and like Babcock said “It’s a new challenge.” For the Red Wings it will be an easier transition now that players in the Uniform know who Blashill is. Bob Duff from The Windsor Star, wrote a fantastic column on the players support for Blashill.
"“Blash has been huge,” Detroit forward Landon Ferraro said. “He’s taken me from a guy that had the tools to get here and get a chance to someone that’s actually got here.”"
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It’s among the belief the change is what the Red Wings needed, everywhere Jeff Blashill has went he’s turned around and won. Before coaching in the American Hockey League and NCAA, He coached in the United States Hockey League for the Indiana Ice.
In Blashill’s first of three stops, Indiana he won a championship. Then in his last of his three stops in Grand Rapids he won a Calder Cup Championship. The only one that didn’t win the Championship was at Western Michigan where he led the Broncos to their best record in fifteen years.
Blashill has a good communication and connection with his players and brings a winning breed that very rarely can be taught. Players think highly of Blashill as a head coach.
“He knows what the players can do a little differently.” Tomas Jurco said.
One night in late February, Don Cherry from Coaches Corner on CBC said something that I’ve remembered and since the Red Wings are potentially hiring a coach that has never coached in the National Hockey League, it applies here. Cherry spoke on what teams fail to comprehend when hiring a coach that hasn’t coached in NHL.
"You know I don’t get why NHL teams continue to hire names, when they are just trying to make their fan base happy.Every great Head Coach gets his shot eventually, but if I was running a team I’m looking for a guy who can win every where he’s gone. It doesn’t always have to be a big name, It needs to be the right fit."
Doesn’t that describe Blashill to a tee? He has won where ever he’s gone, and even former Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock said he’s a “Serial Winner.” Detroit was eliminated by Jon Cooper and the Tampa Bay Lighting in this years playoffs. Before roaming the benches in Tampa. Cooper never had the experience in the NHL as a head coach, but now he’s in the Stanley Cup Final, that says something.
Most will tell you, Babcock leaving means Detroit will take a step back. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. A lot of people are missing the bigger picture of the story that has been told in past experiences. The Red Wings hiring Blashill is the best choice for the Red Wings at this exact moment.
Detroit’s getting younger, they’re ready for whats coming. General Manger Ken Holland had a plan when he signed Blashill to an extension in Grand Rapids and the teams potential hiring of Jeff Blashill is the Red Wings best choice. Going forward I see no reason why this team can’t compete for a Stanley Cup after all, they did take Tampa to seven games.
I believe the hire of Jeff Blashill will energize the team. Having them playing for a new voice is never a bad thing.
So what do you think? Is Blashill the right hire? Is there someone else you wish the team would go after? Let us know below and don’t forget to stay connected to Detroit Jock City for all your offseason Detroit Red Wings news.
Next: What is the best place for Larkin next season?