Detroit Red Wings: Dan Bylsma not a lock to be next Head Coach

The Detroit Red Wings should be in the market for a new head coach at the conclusion of the season.  I don’t think Dan Bylsma is a shoo-in for the job.

Recently we published an article surrounding the possibility of Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman making his return to the franchise this summer, taking over for Ken Holland.  In a perfect world, this would be amazing for the franchise.  I also believe this could be a real possibility.

The second Yzerman abruptly stepped down to a lesser role with a Stanley Cup contending team he had built; I like many hoped he had “Detroit” on his mind.  Although we don’t know what the future brings regarding Yzerman, it was nice to hear the reasoning behind his decision included the Metro Detroit area.  He wanted to spend more time with his family in Detroit rather than being away from them in Tampa Bay for so long.  He left but didn’t uproot his family.

This brings us back to a couple of offseason management scenarios for the Detroit Red Wings.  If Steve Yzerman is not interested in a role with the Detroit Red Wings, I expect Ken Holland to be safe.   Although I don’t necessarily agree with that, Chris Ilitch just extended his contract last summer.  If this is the case, I believe Dan Bylsma‘s stock will rise, and he will be the obvious choice to be the Red Wings next bench boss if Holland deems a change needs to be made.  The better question is, should he be?

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He was brought in to help correct the Detroit Red Wings offensive woes that have hindered them over the last few seasons.  Jeff Blashill has mentioned time and time again “Bylsma runs the power-play,” and he, for the most part, allows him full control over both units.

Well, the Detroit power-play is ranked 25th in the NHL only operating with a 16% success rate.  Those numbers certainly won’t get you a head coaching job alone.  Granted Bylsma can’t be the only one to blame; he has limited talent to work with. He’s not running the Washington Capitals or his former Pittsburgh Penguins power-play units.  The Wings options are few and far between; the drop off is enormous after Dylan Larkin, Gustav Nyquist, Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou.

The struggling offense goes further than just the PP.  They are ranked 26th in the league averaging a mere 2.79 goals per game.  The club ranks 25th in the NHL averaging 29 shots on goal per game.  Again, it can’t all be blamed on Bylsma, but I thought he was here to “save” our offense?

If Ken Holland is still at the helm at seasons’ end and decides against elevating Bylsma, don’t be surprised if he considers bringing Jeff Blashill back.  I don’t feel he should, but we all know how loyal this guy is.  I think that would stunt the growth of this franchise and prolonge a full rebuild another few seasons. Also, it feels like we expect to see Blashill go, but that doesn’t mean Bylsma is the best option to replace him.

Remember the Buffalo Sabres gave Bylsma a five-year contract but was canned after two.  He failed to make the playoffs in both of his first two seasons, and the Sabres ownership fired Bylsma along with general manager, Tim Murray.  I will say that two years is not long enough to give a head coach, but the fact that the new regime didn’t feel Bylsma was the right guy to navigate the Buffalo franchise through the rebuild is somewhat alarming to me.

There was also a rumor at the time that Jack Eichel would not talk about a contract extension while Bylsma was the Sabres bench boss.  He, of course, denied the allegation, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t true.  Nevertheless, that is a bit alarming with all the young talent the Detroit Red Wings need to resign in the coming years.

He won a cup with the Penguins, one we as Detroit Red Wings fans will never forget.  I hate to remind you of the details, but we were winning in game 6, up three games to two in the series. We lost, and in game 7 with a chance to win back to back cups, and seal the series at home in Detroit, the Bylsma driven team would be victorious behind Maxime Talbot’s game of his life scoring both Pens goals.  Bylsma won that cup after taking over for Michel Therrien mid-season.

After making the playoffs six straight years, Bylsma wouldn’t get the Penguins another championship, and that was with Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby in their prime.

IF the Detroit Red Wings decide to relieve Ken Holland of his duties at the end of the season, it makes sense for the new GM (Steve Yzerman), to hire “HIS” guy to be the next head coach of the franchise.  At this point in the season with Jeff Blashill in the final year of his contract, it makes sense to let him ride out the season and then evaluate all of the options available.