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Keeping Blashill - On A Short Leash - Isn't A Terrible Idea |
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Undoubtedly, it’s not going to be a popular choice among the Detroit Red Wings fanbase, news that the club is working toward a new contract with coach Jeff Blashill.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie was the first to report that Wings GM Ken Holland and Blashill were discussing a new pact. “The expectation is the Red Wings, even before the end of this season, may begin extension negotiations with Blashill,” McKenzie told TSN.
A second NHL source confirmed that this is indeed going to happen, and will likely be announced sometime shortly after the conclusion of the 2018-19 NHL regular season.
On the surface, the fan unrest is understandable. The Wings are going to miss the playoffs for the third successive successive, something that hasn’t happened since a five-season absence from 1978-79 through 1982-83. Detroit currently sits 30th overall in the 31-team NHL, which would be the club’s worst finish since ending up in the league basement in 1985-86.
Here’s why it makes sense to give Blashill a new contract, albeit it a short one, no more than two years at the most.
Record-wise, even if the Wings show improvement next season, they are going to be a playoff team. That’s an unrealistic goal, no matter how much they try to sell you on how close they are to being there.
“It’s harder to feel it right now as I have at different points in the year but I certainly think our arc is headed in the right direction,” Blashill said. “I’m hoping we bottomed out a year ago.
“I thought there were lots of points in the year had we stayed healthier early, we could’ve given ourselves a better chance.”
Currently, the Wings list 10 players on their 23-player roster who are 25 or younger. That number only figures to increase next season, and that’s why Blashill should stay put.
He’s a strong teacher and what the Wings need most now is teaching. A number of players who succeeded as Wings before Blashill was behind the bench, players like Gustav Nyquist, Luke Glendening, Tomas Tatar and Danny DeKeyser, played for him when he coached AHL Grand Rapids.
“We’ve relied on way more young guys this year. Obviously when (captain Henrik) Zetterberg retired (before the season), that kind of rips the Band-Aid off and now you gotta sink or swim. We’ve haven’t swam enough, but we’ve been closer to swimming on a regular basis.”
USA Hockey is expected to ask Blashill to coach at the world championships. At last season’s worlds, and with a better team on the bench in front of him, Blashill guided Team USA to third place, beating Canada in the bronze-medal game.
In Detroit, the young players listen to him, they respond to him. The team plays with structure. But they aren’t ready to win yet.
When they are - possibly within a year or two - that’s the time to look at who should be coaching them and decide then if Blashill’s the right man for the job.
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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