|
So, whose fault is it then? |
|
|
|
|
|
On the one hand, as the Detroit Red Wings cleaned out their lockers on Tuesday, the team grumbled about their dissatisfaction with the status quo.
On other hand, they continued to endorse the status quo.
Despite missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1981-82 and 1982-83, the Wings on Saturday extended the contract of general manager Ken Holland for two years.
Tuesday, as was expected, the team announced that coach Jeff Blashill would return for the final year of his four-year contract with the Wings.
“I think the experience of three years in the National Hockey League, he’s been a guy that had success along the way, there’s a reason for him to continue to be the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings,” Holland explained.
Holland pointed to how the team continued to buy into Blashill’s message, even when their situation was so blatantly hopeless.
“The team played hard right to the end,” Holland said. “I thought even when we lost nine in a row, we lost a lot of games by a goal, we played hard.”
Captain Henrik Zetterberg also offered a ringing endorsement of Blashill’s performance.
“I think Blash has done a good job,” Zetterberg said. “It’s not an easy spot, or easy job to take over. I think he’s been doing a good job with the kids, with all the guys.
“It’s a good locker room. I think we’re in it together. We are dealing with the ups and downs together. I’ve nothing bad to say about him.”
Interesting philosophies, but also somewhat puzzling. It’s Blashill himself who likes to point out that he works in a results-based profession. In the NHL, you don’t get paid for trying hard. You get rewarded for winning, the thing the Wings haven’t done enough of the past two seasons.
According to ownership, this isn’t the fault of the guy in charge of picking the players. According to the GM, it isn’t the fault of the guy who’s teaching the players, which leads to a perplexing concern.
If that’s the case, then who’s to blame for the mess that this organization has become?
Blashill did allow that the work of the team’s staff was under scrutiny.
“We’re evaluating everything in terms of how can we be better?” Blashill said. “When we talked to the team today, we’ve all got to be a little bit better.
“I’ll certainly evaluate our staff and see if there’s anything that makes sense for us.”
On Board
Blashill won’t be the only Red Wing representing Team USA at the upcoming world championship. The head coach of the team will include Detroit center Dylan Larkin on the roster.
“I think anytime you get to put the team on your shoulders and you win or lose, it can help you,” Blashill said. “It can really help you either way. If you lose, you can learn from it. If you win, it gives you confidence that you can put the team on your shoulders and win.
“He’s going to be a big factor in it. It’s why I think Larks is a great competitor. He looks at this year and says ‘I can be a better winner.’ I think that’s great to hear. What you want are athletes who want it on their shoulders when it matters most and he’s certainly one of those guys.”
So far, Larkin is the only Wing named to the American roster.
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»