Detroit Red Wings: Roundtable Discussion of Jeff Blashill
By Bob Heyrman
Brian Wallace;
The Detroit Red Wings are in dire straits. The Wings went from being competitive in the first 3 games to being blown out in Boston and Montreal. They have found a few wins sprinkled in since but as a whole, the Detroit on-ice play has been pathetic. At some point, the blame must fall on head coach Jeff Blashill.
107 wins, 112 losses, 39 ties that is good enough to get Jeff Blashill to become the second worst Red Wings coach in history. “We have to be better.” This is what Blashill has said for all of the Detroit games this season. I certainly hope he is placing himself in that we as well.
Years of making the playoffs have taken its toll on the organization. Detroit Red Wings fans need to come to grips with the fact the talent cupboard is nearly bare. Yes, the team has some young talent to build around.
How long will Detroit management stick with a coach who has developed some players? But the team has not netted him many wins. Let me be clear. The Red Wings were not going to be a playoff team this season.
Still part of player development is getting the team to play hard every game. That has not happened. Another tough season was always coming and has arrived, but at what cost? Certainly, some wins and points would be nice in a tough season.
The Detroit Red Wings have allowed 45 goals, before the start of Thursday night’s game. Not a misprint, 45 goals allowed. They are -15 in goal differential. Blashill still shows up. This is sort of what a rebuild looks like, but rebuilding teams put forth more effort.
Has Jeff Blashill lost the Red Wings? That is the million dollar question. The teams’ uninspired play suggest that he may have. The Red Wings season may already be over.
Dan Bylsma was brought in as an assistant coach and put in to fix the power play. Bylsma has head coaching experience. In a season going nowhere. Does it make sense to make a coaching change while Blashill is in the final year of his contract or just ride it out?
To be fair, Blashill has not had a full roster to work with. The defense was ravaged by injuries, and key forwards are currently sidelined as well. Leaving rookies to learn NHL play on the fly, but the losses are getting more lopsided. Players do not like to lose.
If young players do not begin to take steps forward., then removing the head coach must be on the table. Close losses are much easier to take than blowouts. The young players need wins as much as fans do.
There is no easy solution. But “we have to be better” needs to start with the man behind the bench.