In a popular move, Head Coach Jeff Blashill will be replaced for the remaining 20 games of the regular season. Currently, the only thing keeping Blashill in Detroit is his contract which is purportedly for an additional season. Many Red Wings fans were surprised that Blashill was extended. As the season has moved along, the Red Wings continue to fall further out of playoff contention and it seems Blashill has lost his ability to motivate this team on a regular basis.
Advantages: The Red Wings need a new voice behind the bench. If they can’t find a suitable replacement, promote Alex Tanguay on an interim basis and re-evaluate at the end of the season. This will send a message to current players and fans that the next era of Red Wings hockey is just around the corner.
Disadvantages: Making a coaching changed during the season is a sign that you made the wrong decision in extending your head coach. The team has improved, but the additions of Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Pius Suter, and Alex Nedeljkovic and the return to health of Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi have had more to do with the turnaround than an improvement in coaching.
What to expect: In an unpopular move, Blashill remains the Red Wings head coach until the end of the season. In an even more disappointing move, Bashill fulfills the remainder of his contract, which concludes after the 2022-23 season.
I believe that Blashill will be replaced as the head coach during the summer. The new coach will bring in his own staff and bring a new voice behind the bench that is long overdue.