Better Head Coaching candidates the Detroit Red Wings should Consider
By Bob Heyrman
A contract extension for Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill is anticipated, although nothing has been put to paper yet multiple sources are expecting the deal to be finalized soon.
It seems Red Wing Nation is somewhat divided when it comes to the news that Jeff Blashill is expected to receive a contract extension. We’ve gauged the fanbase in recent weeks, and we have come to a conclusion more Detroit Red Wings fans would rather a new face behind the bench rather than extending Jeff.
It seems many fans would like GM Ken Holland out and a change in culture from the top down within the franchise. Anytime you propose the idea of bringing Steve Yzerman home fans get a little giddy–can you blame us? Yzerman is indirectly home, he’s back living in the Detroit area, but as we’ve recently written, it’s hard to imagine Yzerman unseating his mentor Holland with all of their history working together. Wouldn’t it be nice if Steve returned this summer as a senior advisor and worked alongside Holland during the final year of his contract, allowing for a smooth transition and then not offering Kenny a contract extension in a year from now.
If Jeff Blashill were to receive a contract extension, I hope the Detroit Red Wings are intelligent about it only extending him for a year rather than signing him to a long-term deal. Although I’m personally not a Blashill fan, he does have limited resources to work with, but his willingness to play grinding veteran players with low upside over young promising prospects raise my blood pressure.
I understand players need to earn their keep, they need to produce to earn another shift but are the Justin Abdelkader‘s of the world producing? Why not allow Michael Rasmussen to play with more offensive minded players like Dylan Larkin or Andreas Athanasiou? Why is Darren Helm playing on the top line? Before getting injured why was Jonathan Ericsson playing over Madison Bowey or Dennis Cholowski at various times this season?
That being said, Blashill seems to understand what he’s got in Athanasiou and Mantha this season, in years past they were receiving the “Rasmussen” treatment. In years past many players regressed under Blashill’s watch, remember Larkin himself had a sophomore slump, but it needs to be said, this season more players have progressed positively. Larkin and Athanasiou are having career years, Filip Hronek is turning into a top-four defenceman before our very eyes, so it hasn’t been all bad.
Before the Detroit Red Wings rush out to extend Jeff Blashill’s contract, we take a look at a few better head coaching options the team should consider.