Either he resigns or I resign as the head coach of the Detriots Red Wings.
It’s the ideal time for a series of mailbags because the Detroit Red Wings are off until their game against the New York Rangers on January 31.
Pat B., a Free Press reader, asks today’s question regarding the situation of Wings coach Jeff Blashill, who is in his sixth season in charge.
“Would you kindly clarify Blashill’s situation? By far the poorest record in the NHL standings belongs to the Wings. How many other coaches have been fired this season, even though some of them had winning teams? How does Yzerman think?
Jeff Blashill, the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, observes the action on Saturday, January 18, 2020, at Little Caesars Arena against the Florida Panthers.
This season, seven coaches have quit or been dismissed, five of them due to problems with their players’ on-ice play: Mike Babcock (Toronto Maple Leafs), Gerard Gallant of the Vegas Golden Knights, Peter Laviolette of the Nashville Predators, Peter DeBoer of the San Jose Sharks, and John Hynes of the New Jersey Devils. (Bill Peters left the Calgary Flames, and the Dallas Stars fired Jim Montgomery due to his lack of professionalism.)
For Gallant, it was his third firing as head coach of an NHL team; the Columbus Blue Jackets fired him in November 2006, and the Florida Panthers fired him in November 2016. His third season with the clubs saw all three of these events.
Under Blashill, the Wings are 148-180-51. He took over at a challenging moment, as the Wings’ deficiency in depth in the minor leagues was a contributing factor in Babcock’s decision to resign as coach following the 2014–15 campaign.
Winger for the Detroit Red Wings On Friday, January 17, 2020, in Detroit, Filip Zadina celebrates his goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period.
Blashill was brought on as an assistant by Babcock in July 2011 based on his resume, which included leading Western Michigan to the 2011 NCAA Tournament.T.
In addition to leading the Grand Rapids Griffins to the AHL title in 2013, Blashill was selected coach of the year in the AHL in 2014. Blashill was Babcock’s logical replacement when he left.
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Additional mailbag content:What shows are worth seeing left in this awful season
It is unjust to blame Blashill for this miserable season. The Wings lack a proven No. 1 defenseman (which is what they hope Moritz Seider develops into) and an offensive weapon (Frank Zadina is the same). Though they were small transactions, general manager Steve Yzerman signed free agents Valtteri Filppula, Patrik Nemeth, and Calvin Pickard and acquired Adam Erne, Alex Biega, Brendan Perlini, and Robby Fabbri in an attempt to bolster the team.
The team’s best defenseman, Danny DeKeyser, was sidelined eight games into the season due to a back injury, demonstrating the impact that injuries have had. After challenging Toronto’s Jake Muzzin for a hit on Madison Bowey, Anthony Mantha had 24 points in 29 games. However, this action resulted in a rib cage/shoulder injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the season.
Starting with the 2019–20 season, Steve Yzerman was appointed general manager and executive vice president of the Red Wings.
With the Wings back in action, it should be easier to predict when Andreas Athanasiou, who has been out since December 29 due to a lower-body ailment, will return.
Further from the mailbag: Is trading Luke Glendening a wise move?
Eleven defenseman have played because of the numerous injuries, and the only guys who haven’t missed a game are Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi. All teams have injuries from time to time, but the Wings lack the depth to hide their own, which leaves them with a lineup that is largely made up of call-ups and underutilized veterans.
Yzerman, what is he thinking now? Although he keeps his cards close to his vest, there has been no sign that he plans to change coaches during the season. In addition to Gallant, who has been a longstanding friend and former colleague, Yzerman also shares a relationship with assistant coach Lane Lambert of the New York Islanders. Lambert was Yzerman’s roommate upon moving to Detroit in 1983 and is also a fellow 1983 draft pick. When the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018, Lambert was one of their assistant coaches.
Yzerman’s assessment of Blashill’s influence on the young players, including Larkin, Bertuzzi, Zadina, and Filip Hronek, is crucial to understanding why Blashill is still on the Wings’ bench.
Yzerman observes practices at Little Caesars Arena in addition to games. Not the Wings’ position in the standings, but that is what he is evaluating. Blashill might not be coaching the Wings the following season due to the optics of missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, but to his credit, they have mainly kept up their hard work even as they have fallen to the bottom of the NHL.
