It's official: Jeff Blashill to return as Red Wings coach
Term and compensation not revealed. Bylsma out as assistant in charge of special teams.
Surprise, a bunch of posters just want to complain and think the Wings should be great and can't look at the decision in context.
Don’t know that much about hockey coaching (go wings though), but didn’t he handed a terrible roster with the expectation to lose? Kind of hard to blame him that much.
It's kind of interesting from Blashill's perspective. Great paycheck and perks, sure, but you know that he knows he's toast as soon as the roster improves. That has to be a weird feeling.
FWIW, I don't think Gallant or Lambert will be the next hire. I think Stevie is trying to set the table for Larionov.
That'd be interesting. I think his only coaching experience is the 2022 Russian Olympic team. You think that's enough?
He coached the Russian Juniors team at the 2021 World Junior Championships (4th place).
Another potential issue is that he is, or at least the last I knew he was, a player agent.
Igor gets mentioned a lot on Red Wing boards. He is The Professor after all and has spoken out about how most NHL coaches (and lower level leagues for that matter) stifle offensive development and creativity because it’s easier to tell your players to suffocate the opposing team and not turn the puck over.
For those who have watched a lot of Wings games in recent years, you are well aware that not only do they suck but they play an almost unwatchable style of low event hockey almost always dumping the puck in or passing it up along the boards. The complete opposite of what we were used to seeing in the '90s and '00s. That leads to a lot of 2-1 losses and is also a big reason they were the lowest scoring team in the league with barely 2 goals per game.
I also believe this low event, must play the 200 foot game or you will get benched in favor of Filppula or Nielsen style is terrible for the development of the younger players. Larkin was terrible this year and they gave up on Mantha. That's why somebody like Igor is intriguing. He could bring an entirely different approach to coaching and developing the players which many Wings fans feel is needed at this time. The only issue is Igor is 60 years old and has no coaching experience outside of one World Junior Championship tournament so who knows if he is really even a viable option.
Don't really care one way or the other. Until they have a good enough roster to threaten for the playoffs, the coach isn't going to matter much. And anyway, they were significantly improved this year, so that alone warrants giving Blash an extension.
Just...for the love of god, bring in somebody who can teach them how to score a damn goal on the powerplay (or, like, in general). I'd like to watch a team that doesn't look completely lost on a two-minute 5-on-3 powerplay plz.
I trust every decision Stevie makes
Do we all really think it’s the coaches fault the Wings are so bad?
Apparently the roster means nothing.
When you’re rebuilding, there’s little reason to change your coach unless they’re hindering the development of your younger players. I feel like we’ve been fine in that regard under Blashill. Only reason to get rid is if a can’t miss coach becomes available and is interested.
This is a clear signal that the rebuild continues. The team improved on D and massively in goal but still struggles to score.
Nobody in Detroit want to win more than Chris Ilitch and he wins when you visit Comerica Park and LCA...so get out there and support a winner!
it shows loyalty to a coach. When it is time to hire a new coach if things don't improve with a better roster, more coaches will be interested knowing they are not likely to get fired immediately
If Yzerman can accomplish what he did in Tampa, he can do it in Detroit and then some. The guy knows how to build a team. It was about five years into his tenure in Tampa before the Lightning were as consistently successful as they are now.
He's been back in Detroit for all of two seasons. I know patience is a hard thing to come by in sports, for all of us. But if his previous results are any indication, he will have Detroit back to where its used to being within the next few years.